Reuters
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Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6‑4 4‑6 6-4 on Saturday and capture a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world No. 1 in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago.
In the first grand slam final since 2008 featuring players yet to drop a set, it was top seed Sabalenka who blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all guns blazing to break in the opening game and wrest control.
The Kazakh fifth seed’s huge ball-striking caused all sorts of problems for twice champion Sabalenka, as she comfortably got to set point in the 10th game and finished it off to send alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.
Having arrived with 46 hardcourt grand slam match wins from the last 48, four-times major winner Sabalenka found her groove and started the second set more positively, but Rybakina saved three break points to hold for 1-1.
A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout destined to be decided by whichever player held their nerve.
Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing the victory to add to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
