January 28, (THEWILL) – Aryna Sabalenka has secured her first career Grand Slam in singles after a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over reigning Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina, at the 2023 Australian Open.
The match, which was held under the lights at Melbourne Park, was a highly-anticipated showdown between two of the biggest hitters on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka, who is currently ranked 5th in the world, will now move up to the number two spot in the WTA rankings, behind Iga Swiatek.
The match began with Rybakina taking an early lead, firing three aces in her opening service game and breaking from 40-0 down to move into a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka struggled with her second serve throughout the match, with Rybakina applying heavy pressure when returning them.
However, Sabalenka was able to rescue two break points in her opening service game of the second set and broke to go 3-1 up after an unforced error from Rybakina. The world number five had to fight hard to hold her remaining service games, but she was able to force a third-set decider with a crushing ace.
The third set was understandably tense with both players unleashing vicious forehands and winners from the baseline. But at 3-3, Sabalenka found the breakthrough. On her third break point of the game, she put together a combination of three powerful shots, finishing off with a smash at the net, to move into a pivotal 4-3 lead.
Rybakina tried her very best to stay within touching distance but Sabalenka was ultimately able to seal the win on her fourth championship point when Rybakina overcooked a forehand. Sabalenka crumbled to the ground in tears of joy, as the crowd erupted in applause.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
