A forgettable women’s Australian Open had an unforgettable finale, as Elena Rybakina came from a break down in the final set to defeat world No1 Aryna Sabalenka, in a match pulsing with power and dripping with tension.
Rybakina was in the ascendancy but when Sabalenka won five straight games at the turn of the second and third sets, a fifth Grand Slam title felt awfully close.
But the 26-year-old Kazakh responded with five straight games of her own, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. It is her second major, to go with the Wimbledon title of 2022.
As much as she deserves it – and she really does – it is hard not to feel uneasy at the fact this triumph was overseen by her coach Stefano Vukov, barking instructions at her as always. In February of last year, the Serb was banned by the WTA for a year for ‘abuse of authority and abusive conduct’ towards Rybakina.
An investigation found Vukov had called Rybakina ‘stupid’ and ‘retarded’. He told her she would ‘still be picking potatoes’ in Russia without him – the irony being, of course, that Vukov would probably be taking kids tennis camps without Rybakina.
The ban was reduced after arbitration and he is back in situ here.
Elena Rybakina put in a towering performance against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first Australian Open
But doing so under the eye of Stefano Vukov will prompt conflicting feelings after a turbulent year for player and coach
Rybakina has always publicly defended Vukov and criticised the WTA for taking action against him, going so far as to refuse to take a photo with tour CEO Portia Archer after winning the World Tour Finals in November. But the ‘relationship of dependence’ which Vukov is said to have fostered certainly rings true on court – she is forever going over to speak to him, asking where to serve, where Sabalenka is likely to serve.
We can never know exactly what went on between these two but one thing Rybakina has proved this fortnight – if it was ever in doubt – is that she does not need Vukov; she does not need anyone. She is a supreme ball-striker and a wonderful athlete; her serve is the best in the world and her groundstrokes off both wings are as pure as the driven snow. If she lacks anything it may be an ability to problem-solve for herself on court.
‘Thank you to my team: without you it wouldn’t be possible,’ said Rybakina on court, after Vukov had come up to collect his own trophy as the winning coach. ‘We had a lot of things going wrong and I’m really glad we achieved this result.’
To concentrate on the tennis itself, this remains a captivating rivalry. Fire and ice does not go far enough in describing the contrast between these two personalities: they are molten lava and a polar ice cap.
Every drop of emotion is written in technicolour on Sabalenka’s face; Rybakina gave only the merest smile after winning the title. A mile apart off the court, they are mighty close on it. They have now met 15 times – neither has faced anyone else more often – and Sabalenka leads eight to seven.
Rybakina is the only player in the world with the thrusters to rush Sabalenka. And rush her she did, right from the start. The 26-year-old Kazakh has the best server in the world, and what characterises the best is not the first delivery but the second. Most players can bang down big first serves but the force, angle and control of Rybakina’s back-up ball sets her apart.
What could Sabalenka have done differently? Well, if one looks at some of Rybakina’s recent defeats – to Karolina Muchova in Brisbane and Marketa Vondrousova at the US Open – they were to players who love to mix up the play with slices, drop shots and volleys. Those touch aspects of Sabalenka’s game have improved out of sight over the last two years and she could have gone to that toolbox more. It was two short slices which opened the door for a break of serve to take the second set.
Sabalenka struggled against Rybakina unblemished ball striking and hammer-like serve
This marks the second Australian Open final that Sabalenka has lost, after last year’s defeat to Madison Keys
Ice cool Rybakina put in an impressive physical performance against the ferocious ball striker
Sabalenka roared back in the second set after being swept aside in the first by her opponent
Rybakina is a muted presence on court and her celebrations were limited to hugs with her team and a small smile and wave
Sabalenka by contrast is a player of fire and emotion, and the Belarusian star opted to hide her tears under a towel
Winning in Melbourne marks Rybakina’s second Grand Slam after claiming Wimbledon in 2022
The 27-year-old is left with a Grand Slam final record of four wins and four defeats, and a win-rate of 50 per cent does not do justice to her superiority over the field. She collapsed against Coco Gauff in the 2023 US Open final, and lost all composure against the same opponent in the championship match at Roland Garros last year. And now this, a defeat from 3-0 down in the deciding set.
This was far from a poor performance but it does feel like the next step for her is to play with more clarity and tranquillity when it matters most.
Meanwhile in the men’s doubles final, Liverpool’s Neal Skupski and American Christian Harrison won the title in their first Grand Slam together. Skupski, 36, teamed up with the Harrison after his previous partner and fellow Brit Joe Salisbury took a break from tennis due to anxiety.
