Australian Open 2023: What Aryna Sabalenka’s win means for tennis, Russian players at Wimbledon

Aryna Sabalenka wants to return to Wimbledon in 2023, and hopes Australian Open victory can clear the way for Russians and Belarusians to compete.

Aryna Sabalenka was all smiles after the women’s final. Picture: Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka wants to return to Wimbledon this year – but the Australian Open champion was unsure whether her breakthrough grand slam would help clear the way for Russians and Belarusians to compete.

Every time Sabalenka has stepped on to a tennis court this year she has walked off a winner (11-0) and on Sunday she enjoyed a gondola boat ride through the botanical gardens with her silverware.

Sabalenka posed with a leg in the air – and that was reflective of her January as the Belarusian blitzed 10 opponents in straight sets before rising to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 in Saturday night’s final.

But the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup will be engraved with Sabalenka’s name only after she played under a ‘neutral flag’ at this year’s tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2023 Australian Open. Picture: Getty Images.

Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but switched to representing Kazakhstan in 2018, won Wimbledon last year with Russians and Belarusians such as Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka banned.

The WTA and ATP awarded no ranking points for Wimbledon last year in protest to the player bans and no decision has been made by The All England Lawn Tennis Club for 2023.

“I always love to play there and I’ll be happy to compete there again,” Sabalenka said on Sunday morning from the botanical gardens.

“I don’t know (if my victory will help us to return). Right now I cannot think about that, I’m just trying to enjoy the moment — and that’s it.”

Sabalenka is unsure whether Russian and Belarusian players will be able to represent their nations at Wimbledon. Picture: AFP.'

Recent reports from England suggested a U-turn on the ban was likely, however it was then reported that last week’s ugly images of Russian supporters waving Vladimir Putin flags outside Rod Laver Arena could be cause another rethink.

Sabalenka got “a few hours sleep” after her $2.975 million life-changing victory.

“I think I need a few more days to realise. I mean I still feel like I’m on another planet trying to understand what just happened,” the 24-year-old said.

“I like to pose, especially when you’re grand slam champion. I think it’s the best morning of my life, it’s so beautiful.

“It was funny night. Everyone was just too happy so some of us didn’t make it today, because it was too much last night.

“We celebrated with my team. A little bit of pizza, a little bit of sweets, a little bit of champagne. There was a little bit of everything last night.”

Wimbledon organisers were reportedly considering a U-turn on Russian bans, but the ugly flag incidents in Melbourne may cause a backflip. Picture: Supplied.

Sabalenka will enjoy one final fancy restaurant in Melbourne on Sunday before packing her bags – and booking an extra seat on the plane for her trophy.

Sabalenka was once so unheralded she was in disbelief when fans asked for autographs. Then, almost imploded 12 months ago she almost imploded on the back of her serving meltdown.

Now the daughter of a hockey player from Minsk is a grand slam champion.

“Unbelievable. I just feel a little bit more respect for myself right now,” she said.

EMPTY ROD LAVER SEATS PROVE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FAKE EXCITEMENT

—Julian Linden

Without Ash Barty to make it easy for the locals to figure out who to cheer for, this year’s Australian Open women’s final was always going to be awkward for Melbourne’s tennis clique.

And so it proved. As the rows of empty plastic seats at Rod Laver Arena proved, it’s impossible to fake excitement when no-one is comfortable supporting either contestant.

That’s not the fault of Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka, the two young women who played their guts out to produce one of the closest finals in years, with Sabalenka prevailing 4-6 6-3 6-4.

“It’s tough to explain what I’m feeling right now,” Sabalenka said.

“I’m just super happy. I don’t know how to explain. It’s just the best day of my life.”

If the experts are right, Sabalenka could be the next big thing in women’s tennis after breaking through for her first grand slam singles title.

Just 24, she’s got the power and skills to win plenty more majors - but only if she’s allowed to.

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina embrace after the women’s final. Picture: Getty Images

And that’s the elephant in the room that left the VIPs in the posh seats squirming after Tennis Australia’s leaders had spent the past fortnight ignoring the most divisive issue in world sport.

Through no fault of their own, Rybakina and Sabalenka found themselves in the middle of the row over whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete on the global stage while Vladimir Putin’s troops continue to wage war on Ukraine.

The Australian Open’s decision to let players compete as ‘neutrals’ is a Band-Aid solution that has appeased no-one because they still ended up with a highly-politicised match-up.

While Sabalenka’s name was engraved next to Barty’s on the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for the women’s champion, her nationality was left blank, even though everyone knows she’s from Belarus.

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Picture: Getty Images

“I think everyone still knows that I’m a Belarusian player,” she said.

Asked how well known she is in her homeland, she replied:

“I don’t know. I think I’m famous in my country? It’s not so many good athletes in my country. That’s why I’m famous there.

“I think right now I also have a little bit more respect to myself. I’m kind of starting to understand that I’m actually a good player. I have to respect, not only respect everybody, respect myself as well.”

Sabalenka’s win will only intensify the debate about whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete while they are being used by politicians for propaganda purposes.

Aryna Sabalenka reacts after her win. Picture: AFP Images

Rybakina has already experienced that.

Born in Moscow, where her parents still live, she switched nationalities to Kazakhstan in 2018 but when she won Wimbledon last year, she was instantly reclaimed by Russians as one of their own.

“Of course, it was not the result I wanted but I think overall it was a really good two weeks for me,” Sabalenka said.

“I think Aryna raised her level in the second set. She played really well, aggressive, a bit less mistakes. I should have been more aggressive in some moments.

“I had some chances, for sure, to turn it around. But, yeah, she played really well today. She was strong mentally, physically. Overall, as I said, it was a good two weeks for me here.”