3 hours ago
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Elena Rybakina inflicted further Grand Slam final heartbreak on world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a dramatic third-set fightback to win her first Australian Open title.
Kazakh fifth seed Rybakina was 3-0 down in the final set, with Sabalenka looking set for a fifth major singles trophy.
However, Rybakina won five successive games before completing a 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory to avenge her loss to two-time winner Sabalenka in the 2023 final.
This was US Open champion Sabalenka's third defeat in her past four major finals, following disappointing losses in last year's Australian Open and French Open showpieces.
The Belarusian had broken Rybakina's impressive serve late in the second set and again early in the decider to take control in her bid for a third Australian Open title in four years.
But Sabalenka surrendered her advantage, tightening as the finish line drew closer and producing three unforced errors to allow Rybakina to break for a second time and hit the front.
The 26-year-old Rybakina then maintained her composure superbly to serve out the match with an ace and claim her second major trophy following her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
In a meeting between two of the biggest hitters on the women's tour, Rybakina neutralised Sabalenka's trademark power with clean ball-striking and clutch serving, before digging deep in the deciding set.
Sabalenka has spent 75 weeks at the top of the rankings and remains the dominant player in the women's game - particularly on hard courts, with this her seventh consecutive major final on the surface.
But Rybakina has emerged as the Belarusian's kryptonite after winning seven of their past nine hard court encounters.
Having appeared on course for an impressive comeback win, Sabalenka sat with her towel over her head as she contemplated that yet another final had slipped from her grasp.
Rybakina, meanwhile, was able to celebrate a hugely impressive run to the title, having also overpowered world number two Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula on her way to the final.
She has now won her past 10 matches against fellow top-10 players and is the first player to claim the title by defeating three top-10 players in each round from the quarter-finals onwards since Naomi Osaka in 2019.
Rybakina is undoubtedly the form player on the WTA Tour, boasting more wins than anyone else since the end of Wimbledon last year (38) and losing just once in her past 21 matches.
The final set aside, both players were dominant on serve, with only three of the first 19 games featuring break point opportunities.
Rybakina made her intentions clear with an immediate break on Rod Laver Arena, coming back from 0-30 down on the Sabalenka serve to register the perfect start.
The Kazakh dropped just three points across her opening three service games and dismissed two break points with successive, accurate first serves to hold for a 5-3 lead before closing out the opener.
Seeking an immediate response, Sabalenka applied further pressure at the start of set two but an unshakeable Rybakina served her way out of three break points.
There would be no escape, however, when Sabalenka forced three more break points with Rybakina serving to stay in the set, the top seed seizing her chance to force a decider.
It was there that the final truly ignited. Rybakina refused to panic as Sabalenka threatened to storm to victory with a five-game run from 4-4 in the second to 3-0 up in the third.
Sabalenka capitalised on a weak service game from her opponent, in which Rybakina made just one first serve, before resisting a break point to stretch her lead in the deciding set.
But Rybakina broke back two games later as the unforced errors began to seep in for Sabalenka, who allowed her emotions to get the better of her in last year's Grand Slam final losses.
Energised by renewed belief, Rybakina reset on serve after Sabalenka spurned the chance to break for a 4-2 lead - and then struck again in the following game as the top seed faltered.
Serving for the championship, she did not blink when Sabalenka closed to 30-30, blocking out the pressure impressively and producing two huge serves to clinch victory.
