Australian Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka wins incredible final against Elena Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka is the Australian Open’s newest women’s champion after an incredible come-from-behind win against Elena Rybakina.

The collective holding of breath was obvious around Rod Laver Arena.

It was the elephant in the room and had been the theme coming into the women’s final for Aryna Sabalenka - her serve.

The reason? It can break down at any time and we’re talking serious meltdown areas.

In 2022, she served up 428 double faults, 151 more than any other player on the women’s tour.

That’s the yips but to her credit the No.5 seed ditched her psychologist and put her head down, finding her own way through the horror.

The evidence was overwhelming that she was on top of things given she hadn’t lost a set for the entire year - on her way to the title in Adelaide and then over the past a couple of weeks at Melbourne Park.

But the spotlight of a maiden grand slam final can do things to people which is why when she produced a double fault in the third game to hand Elena Rybakina a break point, there were plenty of people shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

And they were right to be nervous. Rybakina got the break and quickly raced to a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka broke back to level the first set at 4-4.

However, two double faults - making it five for the set - handed the advantage back to the No.22 seed who didn’t need another invitation.

Aryna Sabalenka embraces Elena Rybakina after the final point. Picture: AFP Images

Then when Sabalenka had two break points on her opening service game in the second set, the eerie narrative about her weakness being the story of the final was about to be set in stone.

In the next 50 minutes the Belarusian did something no-one was expecting. No, it wasn’t to start serving underarm. In fact it was the opposite, she held her nerve to the point where she started going for 150kmph serves with the second ball.

It was gutsy but this turbo style - she only had one double fault for the set - paid off and she wrapped up the set with a 186kmph ace followed by a 167kmph second serve ace.

History wasn’t on Sabalenka’s side despite the impressive second set comeback. Only 10 women had come back from losing the opening set to win in Australia since the start of the Open era in 1969.

But these are unusual times. The 24-year-old was playing without a flag next to her name, she wasn’t allowed to have any flags or supporters wearing her country’s colours in the stadium.

It’s a new script in the women’s game with Ash Barty, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka - the three dominant forces over the past decade - gone, most likely forever.

There is an opening for someone to grab the reins and make it their own.

Sabalenka had long been seen as a major winner but it was always her mental strength - and by association her dodgy serve - which had been holding her back.

Not on this special night. After breaking in the seventh game it was left to the Russian to serve out the match at 5-4.

Aryna Sabalenka reacts after match point. Picture: Getty Images

Another booming ace set up match point before, wait for it, a double fault blew that. She wasted another championship point before delivering a 192kmph serve to save a breakpoint.

Finally, at her fourth attempt the women’s game had a new grand slam winner who when it mattered most did what many can’t, pushed that elephant out the door.

SABALENKA def RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 6-4

She’s done it!

Aryna Sabalenka is the new Australian Open champion.

That wasn’t easy, with the No.5 seed double faulting on her first match point.

But Sabalenka showed why she is so mentally strong. She refused to let it rattle her and stepped up with a number of huge serves and groundstrokes to take it out.

That is one of the best Australian Open finals ever.

SABALENKA V RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 *5-4

Rybakina holds and Sabalenka will serve for the match!

SABALENKA V RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 5-3*

Four points! That’s all that stands between Sabalenka and the title!

Can she do it in this game?

SABALENKA V RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 *4-3

After a six-minute marathon game, we have a break and we have a new leader!

Sabalenka fights and scraps her way to multiple break points, eventually prevailing with an overhead smash winner from the back of the court.

It took serious guts to play that shot at that moment. But she gets all the rewards!

Now she is eight points from the title.

SABALENKA V RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 3-3*

Sabalenka shakes off the disappointment of missing that break point to hold to 15.

That was a big game. She dropped the first point and the window was well and truly open.

But the No.5 seed cracked her 15th ace to cancel any form of challenge.

All eyes are now back on Rybakina.

SABALENKAV RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 *2-3

The drama continues. Finally some pressure on the server, with Rybakina facing a break point in that service game.

But she handles it exactly as you’d expected, cracking two big serves to halt the Sabalenka charge.

How big will that moment prove to be? 

SABALENKA V RYBAKINA 4-6 6-2 2-2*

So far both players have been able to get through their opening two service games in this final set.

Given the way they are serving, how many breaks can we actually expect?

Will one be enough to win it?

9:15PM – SABALENKA TAKES SECOND SET

Woah … how big was that from Sabalenka!

Under all sorts of pressure at deuce while trying to serve out the set, she cracks two MASSIVE aces to get the job done.

The second of the two came on her second serve, which was about as gutsy as it gets!

Now we are all locked up at one-set all.

8:55PM – SABALENKA LEADS 4-1, PRESSING FOR DOUBLE BREAK

If you want to know how tight this final is, check out this stat.

Every game in the second set has gone to deuce.

There is nothing separating these two players. It will just come down to who gets the most free points on serve.

8:40PM – SABALENKA BREAKS FIRST IN SECOND SET

Game on!

The first big moments of the second set go Sabalenka’s way and she has the opening break.

What was the big change?

Sabalenka appeared a bit more relaxed in that game. She played within herself and went after the Rybakina forehand.

It eventually gives up some errors and the Sabalenka camp are up an about.

This match has been played an incredibly high standard.

“Can anyone get better?”, asked Alicia Molik in commentary.

8:18PM – RYBAKINA TAKES FIRST SET 6-4

Game and first set to the Wimbledon champion!

And there were absolutely no nerves to be seen in that game.

Rybakina holds to love to take the opener.

The Sabalenka body language will be one to watch now. She’s looked incredibly frustrated since giving up that second break. She knows how big that was.

8:13PM – RYBAKINA BREAKS FOR 5-4 LEAD IN OPENER

How will Rybakina respond we asked?

That’s how. She follows up being broken by breaking straight back.

That’s really got to sting Sabalenka.

She now hasn’t been in front since the opening game and is four points away from dropping the first set.

8:09PM - SABALENKA BREAKS TO LEVEL MATCH 4-4

Bang, there it is!

After fighting so hard in the previous game, Sabalenka breaks and we are back on serve.

Now all eyes are on Rybakina. How will she respond to the first speed bump tonight?

8:04PM – HUGE HOLD KEEPS SABALENKA ALIVE

That was a big game and Sabalenka knew it.

Trailing 2-4 and 15-30, the No.5 seed was able to dig herself out of a huge hole with a bomb of an ace and two massive groundstroke winners.

Mark that moment down if Sabalenka is able to come back and win the match. If she’d lost that game the first set was gone.

But instead she lets out a loud cry of ‘c’mon’ and she knows she is still right in this opener.

7:52PM - RYBAKINA DRAWS FIRST BLOOD WITH EARLY BREAK

Has a Grand Slam final ever started like this?

That is the question tennis fans around the world will be asking after an incredible start for both women on serve.

Only three games in, we’ve already had seven aces. There’s an average of one ace per minute.

But aces don’t guarantee service holds, which Sabalenka has found out the hard way.

At deuce in her second service game, she throws in a double fault, followed by cheap unforced error to give up the break.

That’s the perfect start for the Wimbledon champion.