Number 5 in the WTA ranking showed coolness when trailing 3/0 in the third set to come back and win at Melbourne Park by 2 sets to 1, partials of 6/4, 4/6 and 6/4
Aryna Sabalenka’s executioner in the 2025 WTA Finals decision, Elena Rybakina once again defeated the number 1 tennis player in the world in the Australian Open decisionthis Saturday (31), in Melbourne, and won the Grand Slam trophy that opens the season for the first time.
The Wimbledon 2022 champion and number 5 in the WTA ranking, who had been defeated by Sabalenka in the final of the 2023 Australian Open, this time showed coolness when trailing 3/0 in the third set to come back and win at Melbourne Park by 2 sets to 1, partials of 6/4, 4/6 and 6/4, in 2h18 of the match.
After reaching their fourth straight final in Australia, the Belarusian, in turn, left the Rod Laver Arena court with her head down for the second consecutive year – had been defeated by American Madison Keys last year.
How was the game?
Rybakina surprised the two-time champion of the Australian tournament right at the beginning of the match and broke the serve of the world number 1, who spent the entire set uncomfortable, behind on the scoreboard. Despite improving in the match, Sabalenka was unable to equalize the score and suffered from her opponent’s quick returns.
After saving two break points in the eighth game, the world number 5 proved to be more efficient and, in command of the match until then, confirmed her serve in the tenth game to close the partial at 6/4 – it was the first set conceded by Sabalenka since the WTA Finals in November 2025.
At a disadvantage, Sabalenka came back stronger in the second set and, unlike the first, put pressure on Rybakina from the start: she took the lead and wasted three break points in the second game. Despite the aggressiveness of the ranking leader, the Kazakh kept the match balanced without giving up games to her rival until the tenth game, when her serve was broken and allowed Sabalenka to close at 6/4.
The break in service in the previous half shook Rybakina and Sabalenka took advantage. Dominant, the Belarusian attacked with powerful blows at the beginning of the third set, confirmed her serve with ease and tried to break her opponent’s serve again, taking a 2/0 lead. The Kazakh even had the chance to equalize in the next game, but wasted the break point and allowed the 2023 and 2024 champion to extend the lead to 3/0.
When it seemed that Sabalenka would finally have control of the match, Rybakina reacted impressively, breaking the Belarusian’s serve in the fifth game, saving a break point and leveling the score at 3/3. The Belarusian lost her performance and saw her opponent win five games in a row, breaking another serve, making it 5/3. The 26-year-old Kazakh confirmed her serve with an ace to close the duel at 6/4 and take the cup.
*With Estadão Content
