Elena Rybakina

After Rybakina saw off Victoria Azarenka, Sabalenka reached her first grand slam singles final with a 7-6 (1) 6-2 victory over unseeded Pole Magda Linette.

I didn’t start really well and in the tie-break I found my rhythm, started trusting myself and going for my shots.” But there Sabalenka was untouchable, opening up a 6-0 lead, and in the second set she was simply too strong for Linette, who has enjoyed a breakthrough grand slam at the age of 30. It was to Linette’s credit that, playing in the biggest match of her life, she did not allow herself to be completely overpowered and held her serve to force a first-set tie-break.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is into her second major final after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semifinals.

A sixth double fault from Azarenka gave Rybakina triple-break point and the Wimbledon champion converted after Azarenka's final shot landed in the net. In the end, I just was playing point by point no matter score. A clean return winner at 5-2, 30-40 gave the 33-year-old one break back, but Rybakina closed out the match on her return. Rybakina kept the sustained pressure on Azarenka's serve, breaking on five of 11 break points. "Not a great feeling right now to digest. Having lost just one set in the tournament, Rybakina proved a formidable frontrunner. But Rybakina broke straight back and settled herself on serve to take a 4-3 lead. As Azarenka's serve began to falter, Rybakina grabbed a second break to lead 5-2. Playing in her first Australian Open semifinal, Rybakina faced a major champion for the third straight match. This time it was Rybakina's turn to withstand the pressure on her serve. MELBOURNE, Australia -- Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced to her second major final, defeating former No.1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals. Azarenka finished with 17 winners and 13 unforced errors.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beats Victoria Azarenka to reach her second Grand Slam final at the Australian Open where she will play fifth seed Aryna ...

Eight of the last 10 females to have done so have been No 1 in the world at least once in their careers. Aryna Sabalenka has won the first 10 matches in 2023. I didn't start really well and in the tie-break I found my rhythm, started trusting myself and going for my shots." 3/7 "It's an incredible atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in the finals and play one more time here. For sure I'll try my best, I'll fight, and hopefully I'm going to win."

MELBOURNE, Australia — It will be strength against strength and power against power in the Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday.

She has beaten three straight Grand Slam singles champions to reach this final: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Azarenka, a 33-year-old Belarusian who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Sabalenka is seeded fifth and Rybakina 22nd, but that does not tell the whole tale. And yet her inconsistency and combustibility have, until now, kept her from reaching the top. But after losing her first three Grand Slam singles semifinals, she is now into her first final. “It was great tennis from me in the tiebreak.” The outcomes were strong. Both have lifted their games to new levels since then. The year’s first Grand Slam event runs from Jan. Rybakina, 23, is a quiet intimidator: her big serves and rolling, deep groundstrokes applying constant pressure. Rybakina is self-contained and difficult to read, maintaining an even keel throughout her matches. In this Australian Open, 16 to Jan.

Mats Wilander has backed Elena Rybakina to make “10 Grand Slam finals” after she beat Victoria Azarenka to reach the final of the Australian Open.

Maybe this is something they’ve talked about, but personally, I would not like it.” “The first set was always going to be crucial, especially after the break of serve. There was always some reaction. “It just wasn’t quite the percentages we’re used to seeing from her. “She’s so calm and mellow throughout, she’s just starting out. Rybakina is looking to win her second major after victory at Wimbledon last summer.

Managing the decisive moments better she defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3.

The consequence of that shift is evident in a run to the final that has been even more impressive than her first. Against Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, in slower, cold night conditions, she could not summon the level of her previous rounds. She received no respect with court assignments and her low seeding, still outside of the top 20 due to the lack of points on offer at Wimbledon, meant that she received far more difficult draws than a reigning grand slam champion would otherwise get. As Rybakina’s greater weight of shot, with the power she generates so easily, met Azarenka’s incessant depth and industriousness, Rybakina initially moved ahead. Even as both players looked to take the initiative and dominate the baseline, this match was always going to be told in its contrasts. Her Wimbledon title was one of the ultimate achievements of her profession, a tremendous success, yet it told little about what would happen next.

The Wimbledon champion claimed a 7-6 (4) 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

For sure I’ll try my best, I’ll fight, and hopefully I’m going to win.” It was Azarenka, one of the best returners in the game in her heyday, who secured the first break of serve but back came Rybakina with three games in a row to lead 5-3. “I’m super happy and proud, with my team also,” said Rybakina.

The big-hitting pair both came through their semi-finals in straight sets on Thursday, with Wimbledon champion Rybakina beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4) 6-3 ...

[January 26, 2023] Stoiber takes on Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals of the girls’ singles while Hewett and Gordon Reid are in the wheelchair men’s doubles final. [January 6, 2023]

In two similar semi-finals, Wimbledon champion Rybakina saw off Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4) 6-3 before Sabalenka reached her first grand slam singles final with a ...

She felt the benefit of having been in a semi-final before, saying: “I think because I knew what to expect. I’m proud of myself how I fought and I tried, but tennis-wise I felt like it just wasn’t there, especially in the important moments.” “There is still one more match to go,” said the Belarusian, who is yet to drop a set in 10 matches in 2023. “It’s good that I kind of break through in the semi-finals, but there is one more match to go. I’m super happy to be in the final and ready to give everything I have left in one day.” “I’m happy, at the same time tired,” said Rybakina.

Elena Rybakina advanced to the Australian Open finals with a win over Victoria Azarenka. She will face Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Magda Linette in the ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina encountered similar issues and her occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are rather misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. She delivered serves at up to 117 mph and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will on Thursday. “Kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. It wasn’t the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers. “For sure, they’re very experienced players,” said Rybakina, whose parents and sister have been in town throughout the Australian Open. “In the tiebreaker, I really found my rhythm,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka is far less cautious, though, and her penchant for high-risk, high-reward play was evident against Linette, who had never been past the third round in 29 appearances at majors.

Australian viewers joined Microsoft mogul Bill Gates in watching Elena Rybakina triumph over Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open yesterday.

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