The Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title this Saturday, by being crowned champion of the Australian Open thanks to her victory in the final over the Kazakh Elena Rybakina by 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4. This victory against the current holder of Wimbledon, which required two hours and 28 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena, will allow the 24-year-old Belarusian to rise from fifth to second place in the WTA ranking.
Sabalenka was established in her sixth consecutive participation in Melbourne Park, where she had celebrated the women’s doubles title with the Belgian Elise Mertens in 2021. The Belarusian received the cup from the American Billie Jean King (79), legend of women’s tennis , winner of 39 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 in women’s doubles and 11 in mixed doubles).
“It is inspiring to receive the trophy from your hands, thank you for all the incredible things you did in tennis. I also want to congratulate Elena, who is a great player. Hopefully we can meet again in the major finals,” the brand-new winner longed for .
Sabalenka managed to overcome a historic weakness in her game, the double fault, despite registering seven throughout the final against only one from the Kazakh. In game play, he fell backwards behind the baseline, tears welled in his eyes, and he ran to his team for a hug.
Sabalenka won the 11 games she has played this year and in the final she lost the first set of the season against a rival whom she beat the four times they met on tour. With the victory she also became the 58th woman to win a Grand Slam title since the start of the Open Era (1968).
Starting this Monday, the Belarusian will return to position 2 in the WTA ranking that she already held in August 2021; while Rybakina, current 25th and Wimbledon champion in 2022, will enter the top ten for the first time.