Aryna Sabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, who won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Saturday night, using 17 aces among her 51 total winners to overcome seven double-faults.
The serves were big. So big. Other shots, too. The points were over quickly. So quickly: Seven of the first 13 were aces.
It was telling that Sabalenka's remarks during the post-match ceremony were directed at her coach, Anton Dubrov, and her fitness trainer, Jason Stacy -- she referred to them as "the craziest team on tour, I would say." After much prodding from her group, she finally agreed to undergo an overhaul of her serving mechanics last August. That, along with a commitment to trying to stay calm in the most high-pressure moments, is really paying off now.
Still, Sabalenka needed to work for the championship while serving in what would be the last game, double-faulting on her initial match point and requiring three more to close things out. As seagulls were squawking loudly while flying overhead at Rod Laver Arena, Rybakina and Sabalenka traded booming serves. Rybakina's fastest arrived at 121 mph , Sabalenka's at 119 mph . They traded zooming groundstrokes from the baseline, often untouchable, resulting in winner after winner.The key statistic, ultimately, was this: Sabalenka accumulated 13 break points, Rybakina seven.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Elena Rybakina for Australian Open women’s titleSabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Rybakina
Read more »
Aryna Sabalenka beats Elena Rybakina for Australian Open women’s titleSabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Rybakina
Read more »
Aryna Sabalenka beats Aryna Sabalenka for Australian Open women’s titleSabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Rybakina
Read more »
Sabalenka beats Rybakina for Australian Open women’s titleAryna Sabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park on Saturday, using 17 aces among her 51 total winners to overcome seven double-faults.
Read more »
Aryna Sabalenka says she stopped consulting a psychologist before run to Australian Open finalAryna Sabalenka told reporters on Thursday that she decided to stop working with a psychologist because she realized ‘that nobody (other) than me will help me’
Read more »
Rybakina to face Sabalenka in Australian Open women's final - TSN.caWimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday.
Read more »