Jelena Rybakina continues to rock the women’s competition at the Australian Open. The Kazakh also showed Viktoria Azarenka the limits and advanced to the final against Aryna Sabalenka.
Wimbledon winner Jelena Rybakina also grabs the title at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Kazakh won the semi-finals in Melbourne 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 3 against the two-time tournament winner Viktoria Azarenka from Belarus with her powerful style of play. Rybakina meets Azarenka’s compatriot Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday, who defeated Magda Linette from Poland 7:6 (7:1), 6:2.
“I’m super happy and proud,” Rybakina said. “Today the conditions were a bit difficult for me, but I managed it well. I’ll do my best in the final, fight and hopefully win.”
Sabalenka stated that she found her rhythm in the tie-break of the first set and wants to take the momentum into the final: “Jelena plays super aggressively and already has the experience of a Grand Slam final. But I’m really looking forward to the game.”
Rybakina strong nerves
Rybakina, who eliminated world number one Iga Swiatek from Poland on her way to the semifinals, is Russian by birth and has been serving for Kazakhstan since 2018. Her coup at Wimbledon was the country’s first Grand Slam title. Azarenka won the trophy Down Under in 2012 and 2013 and has been waiting for another major triumph ever since.
The 33-year-old certainly had chances, but Rybakina freed herself from critical situations with nerves of steel and sealed the win after 1:41 hours of play.