The Australian Open
Sabalenka stops Rybakina in AO title fightback
Aryna Sanalenka needed four match points to achieve her tennis dream as she won the Australian Open 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 over Elena Rybakina on Saturday.
The victory in two and a half hours kept Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina from backing up the Wimbledon trophy she claimed last July over Ons Jabeur.
Sabalenka will move to second in the world behind Poland’s Iga Swiatek in Monday’s rankings.
The winner had to fight to close out the biggest success of her career as Rybakina defended fiercely in the concluding game at the Laver showcourt.
Sabalenka came good in the end as a Rybakina forehand went long.
Now-retired 2022 Open winner Ash Barty from Australia played a major role in the trophy ceremony, with the actual jewellry presented by legend Billie Jean King.
Sabalenka stands a perfect 11-0 this season, with the final her only match extending to three sets.
The winner posted 17 aces among 58 winners and 28 unforced errors; Rybakina’s totals were nine, 31 and 25.
“I’m still shaking, I’m super-nervous,” the winner said. “It’s such an inspiration to get the trophy from Billie Jean.
“Thanks for all you have done for our sport.
“Elena had an incredible two weeks, We’re gonna have many more battles – hopefully in other Grand Slam finals.”
The payer who had to cure a serious case of the serving yips in 2022 tanked her coaching team, which she called “the craziest on Tour.”
“We went through a lot of downs last year but we worked so hard. This trophy is more about them than me.
“I hope to come back stronger next year and show even better tennis.”
Sabalenka now stands 4-0 over her rival, with previous wins in Wimbledon and Abu Dhabi in 2021 and Wuhan in 2019.
She broke through for a Grand Slam finals place after semi-finals at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open.
Rybakina made her winning intentions known early, starting with a break of serve in the third game.
She then lost it as Sabalenka broke back for 4-all; but the fifth seed was unable to profit, with Rybakina breaking again to lead 5-4,
She closed out the set a game later on her first opportunity.
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Sabalenka squared the match in a second set lasting for nearly an hour as she ran off a 5-2 lead. Rybakina saved three break points in an eight-minute sixth game as well as a pair of set points in the eighth to pull to 3-5.
But Sabalenka finished off the set with a second-serve ace on her third opportunity in the next game.
The seed who came to the final with a 10-0 record in 2023 after also winning the Adelaide title, moved into her first three-set match of the season, with Rybakina taking the early lead with a hold, 1-0.
Sabalenka put pressure on her opponent in the seventh game, earning the break for 4-3 with an overhead after Rybakina had saved two break points. She consolidated 5-3, closing with a 17th ace.
“Aryna has had a great start to the season, I know how hard you’ve worked.
“My team and I did a great job in the preseason and over the past three or four years.
“I feel good paying here – I got goosebumps when we were introduced.
“I’m looking forward to coming back next year.. Hopefully I can have the same result and maybe even better,” the player who defeated five seeds including world No. 1 Swiatek during the fortnight said.
Main photo:- Australian Open 2023 Aryna Sabalenka (xxx) celebrates after she wins Ladies Singles Final Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Jannik Sinner has broken his silence as the end of his three-month ban from tennis nears, with the world No. 1 admitting it will take “a little time to find myself again.”
The Italian gave his thoughts to SkySports Italia as he prepares to resume training in a few weeks with his ban for involuntary doping infractions ending on May 4, just a fortnight before the start of Roland Garros.
Sinner signed an agreement with anti-doping body WADA to serve time away from the sport which he dominated in 2024 after inadvertently ingesting a banned substance off the hands of his now-ex masseur last season.
The player called the entire episode “a little unfair” but accepted an ad-hoc sanction arrangement.
“It could have been much worse. We accepted (the suspension) quickly, even if I did not really agree .
“We had to choose the lesser of two evils and I think that’s what we did. What I’m going through is a little unfair, but if you look at it, it could have been much worse – it could have been even more unfair “
The 23-year-old added: “Once I made that decision, it took me a little time to find myself again. Other things happened, beyond this affair, which weren’t easy for me.
“It will take me a little more time to digest all of that, but I’m here. I can’t wait to make my return to Rome (Masters which begins a few days after his return).”
Sinner, a two-time Australian Open champion who also holds the US open crown. is unsure of his reception by peers when he comes back to the Tour in Rome.
“I don’t know what could happen . I’m certain of how things happened – I’m innocent.
“I want to play tennis and be very calm, that’s the end of it. I’m sure everything will be fine, even if it might take a while to get going again at first .”
Despite being out of action, Sinner has managed to maintain the top ATP ranking as rivals Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz continue to trail through poor results during their rival’s enforced absence.
Paula Badosa has given herself less than a month to be fit for the Madrid Masters after withdrawing from Miami with a recurring back problem.
The Spaniard who once touched second in the world retired before her fourth-round match in Florida more than a week ago.
She is hoping to be back on court when Madrid begins in three weeks.
The 27-year-old described her injury as “small hernia that has moved from the vertebra, but I’m being treated for the best treatments.
“My goal is to be back in Madrid.”
This year’s Australian Open semi-finalist added: “I’m doing well. I’m trying to take things positively, put things in perspective, and I’m doing fine.
“Physically? Well, I’ve had every test possible.
“This time I was more scared than I should have been because it was on the opposite side.
“I’ve always had discomfort on the right side, and now it’s on the left. I was worried it was another stress fracture, but fortunately it isn’t.”
Main photo:- Paula Badosa in Miami action before retiring – by ISF Ltd
Aryna Sabalenka shook off a one-hours rain delay as she defeated Jessica Pegula for the third time in a row, winning the Miami Masters on Saturday 7-5, 6-2.
The world No. 1 kept a firm grip on the top ranking spot after dismissing her American opponent after finals wins over Pegula in Cincinnati and New York last season.
Victory in just under 90 minutes was the second title of the season for Sabalenka, who lost 2025 finals at the Australian Open and earlier this month at Indian Wells to teenaged Mirra Andreeva.
The final began an hour late due to rain in South Florida.
Sabalenka broke on six of her 14 chances while dropping her own serve four times.
Sabalenka finally lifted the trophy here on her seventh appearance after reaching quarter-finals in 2021 and 2023.
The winner claimed her eighth title at the 1000 level while improving her record over Pegula to 7-2.
Sabalenka owns 19 career trophies including back-to-back Australian Opens and the US Open last September.
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