The Australian Open
Sabalenka, Rybakina to re-run 2023 AO final
Aryna Sabalenka will hope to complete a trophy hat-trick at the Australian Open, with former finalist Elena Rybakina out to stop her progress when the pair clash in Saturday’s women’s final
The title match will be a replay of 2023, when Sabalenka lifted the first of back-to-back Melbourne honours as she beat the Russian-turned Kazakh.
Sabalenka came up short a year ago when she lost the final to Madison Keys. Both she and Rybakina have reached this weekend’s final without losing a set.
Sabalenka’s 6-2, 6-3 Thursday semi-final defeat of Elena Svitolina made the 27-year-old the first woman to reach four consecutive Melbourne finals since Martina HIngis (six in a row from 1997 to 2002).
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, flirted with disaster before finally overcoming a determined Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-6 (7); victory required four match points – the first separated by half an hour from the last.
Pegula, playing her first Melbourne semi, came from a break down three times in the second set and saved three Rybakina match points in the ninth game as she recovered from 4-2 down to eventually take the set into a tiebreaker.
Rybakina finally escaped with the win as she drove a return winner down the line on her fourth match-winning chance to end the one and three-quarter-hour struggle.
“This means a lot, it was such a battle,” the winner said. “We had an epic second set, I’m really glad I managed to win it.
“Jess was playing so well in the second set, I’m just super-happy to be in the final. This was really stressful for my team. But I’m happy it turned out this wey.
“I’m looking forward to the final; I have a lot of positives to take from this win.”
Sabalenka and Svitolina, from opposing sides of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, did not shake hands before the match as has been the custom for plates from the opposing countries.
Svitolina refused to have a pre-match photo takens with the top seed as well, following the example of her compatriots on court.
“I’m definitely very, very happy with the two weeks here and (a title ) in New Zealand,” Svitolina Ukrainian said of her Melbourne fortnight.
“I’m gutted to not make it through tonight, but it’s very difficult when you’re
playing World No. 1, who is really on fire.
“It was really complicated for me today, but I just want to take positives from the past weeks, the beginning of the year, and just carry them through for the
season.”
Sabalenka, into her 75th week as world No. 1 and holder of four Grand Slam titles, could not fault her semi-final showing.
“I feel good about my tennis, everything that I have been working
during the preseason is working.
“I’m happy with that, and I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
She added: “I would never have thought I could make it to the top 10 and be this consistent,” the winner said. “It’s a dream life, I’m so grateful.”
Sabalenka began with a comeback from 40-14 down in her first service game as the match began on serve before the world zNo. 1 broke for 3-1.
Sabalenka was called for hindrance for vocalising after a hot, with the point penalty upheld.
She shrugged off the minor setback, increasing her lead to 4-1 before wrapping up the set and leaving no room for her opponent in the second set to advance to another title match at Melbourne Park.
Svitolina, who defeated two top 10 opponents on her way to her first semi-final here, ended with just 12 winners to the 29 of Sabalenka.
“She has played incredible this tournament,” Sabalenka said. “I knew I would have to step in and put as much pressure on her as possible.
“My level was there today, level was there. I played some great tennis and I’m happy to get this win in straight sets.
“I feel I’m in a good form, I can definitely draw some confidence and look
forward to the upcoming tournaments.
“We’re just two weeks or maybe three weeks in the year Of course there are few things that I want to improve, I want to do better, to play and to really challenge the top players.”
Main photo:- Elena Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka again in Australian Open final – by ISF LTD
Tennis style icon Naomi Osaka has no plans to try for one-upmanship in the informal fashion stakes at Roland Garros.
The former world No. 1 from Japan has sometimes made more news with her style choices than her racquet, especially after taking time off several seasons ago to have a child.
But Osaka has run against the traditional tennis grain with some of her outfits, which included an exo-skeleton ensemble at January’s Australian Open, where she walked onto court for her opening match wearing a large hat, veil, and carrying a parasol combination and wearing a pair of pleated pants..
The clothing was discarded before the start revealing a tennis dress, with the quirky player explaining the get-up was inspired by “the jellyfish, then butterflies, which ties back to the butterfly moment I had here a long time ago, in 2021,”
The world No. 16 also put on a fashion show at the spring Met Gala in New York, sporting a wedding dress-style garment combined with another huge hat..
For Osaka, it’s just another day in the office, but she said nothing special is planned when Roland Garros kicks of on Sunday in Paris.
“I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes,” she said on Saturday prior to the start of the year’s second major.
“That means I can be as loud with colors or patterns or
fabric as I want.
“I think that’s the fun part.. I feel we lost that a little in tennis. I grew up with, you know, Serena’s and Venus’s (Williams) grand reveals (included beaded hair and catsuits on court).
“I know there are some kids or some people who are similar to me that hopefully feel that same way about my outfits.
“But, yeah, I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.”
Nick Kyrgios is being touted for a return to tennis after playing just one singles match all season, with the controversial Australian due in the lineups for Stuttgart and Halle in June.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist who turns 31 in a week, has been added to the entry lists for the pair of run-up events prior to the grass-court major which starts on June 29.
Kyrgios, who has missed months on end due to injury and motivational worries, has played just one Grand Slam match since 2022, losing in the Australian Open first round in 2025.
His lone outing this season was an ATP defeat in Brisbane on January 6.
Nevertheless, the acquired taste is feted as a crowd-puller and will have German organisers on alert as to his eventual availability.
“Nick Kyrgios has been one of the most dazzling personalities in world tennis for years,” Halle tournament organisers said in a statement.
“The Australian is known for his exceptional playing style, characterised by one of the best serves on the tour, spectacular winners, and great creativity.
“At the same time, his emotional personality and charisma attract considerable attention far beyond the sport.”
Stuttgart start the day after the Roland Garros final while Halle follows a week later in northern Germany from June 13-21.
Novak Djokovic has been making it plain that the end of his career is approaching, with the 38-year-old dropping his strongest hint ever about his future on court.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion who has been keeping his ATP scheduling options open and has competed this season only at the Australian Open (finals loss to Carlos Alcaraz) and winning two rounds last month at Indian Wells.
“Tennis is still very important to me, but it’s no longer everything,” the Serb told Esquire Australia, adding that family matters and two children are starting to take precedence in his life.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges – finding the right balance between tennis and family life, especially as my children are growing and have school commitments, so they can’t travel with me as much as before.
“When I’m on the court, I’m motivated not just to win, but to set an example – to show them values like dedication, resilience, and love for what you do. That motivation is very powerful and very personal.”
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic was runner up to Carlos Alcaraz in AO26 – by ISF Ltd
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