Aryna Sabalenka downs Elena Rybakina for Australian Open title
MELBOURNE, Australia — The serves were big. So big. Other shots, too. The points were over quickly. So quickly: Seven of the first 13 were aces.
It was telling that Sabalenka’s remarks during the post-match ceremony were directed at her coach, Anton Dubrov, and her fitness trainer, Jason Stacy—she referred to them as “the craziest team on tour, I would say.” After much prodding from her group, she finally agreed to undergo an overhaul of her serving mechanics last August. That, along with a commitment to trying to stay calm in the most high-pressure moments, is really paying off now.
Still, Sabalenka needed to work for the championship while serving in what would be the last game, double-faulting on her initial match point and requiring three more to close things out. As seagulls were squawking loudly while flying overhead at Rod Laver Arena, Rybakina and Sabalenka traded booming serves. Rybakina’s fastest arrived at 121 mph , Sabalenka’s at 119 mph . They traded zooming groundstrokes from the baseline, often untouchable, resulting in winner after winner.The key statistic, ultimately, was this: Sabalenka accumulated 13 break points, Rybakina seven.
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