Elena Rybakina has pledged to 'fight till the end' as she prepares for a high-stakes Australian Open final rematch against Aryna Sabalenka, aiming to shed her one-slam wonder label and avenge a painful defeat from 2023.
A Familiar Foe and a Major Opportunity
The powerful Russian-born Kazakh, who made her Grand Slam breakthrough by winning Wimbledon in 2022, has impressively reached her third major final without dropping a single set in six matches at Melbourne Park. The 26-year-old fifth seed now faces a familiar opponent with the prestigious Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and a substantial $4.1 million prize cheque on the line at Rod Laver Arena this Saturday night.
Head-to-Head History and Recent Form
World number one Aryna Sabalenka holds a slight edge in their career meetings with an 8-6 record, but Rybakina claimed victory in their most recent encounter at the WTA Finals in November. This recent success gives Rybakina confidence as she steps onto the court, undaunted by Sabalenka's experience of contesting the past three finals at the Australian Open.
Reflecting on their 2023 final, where Sabalenka fought back from a set down to secure her first Grand Slam title, Rybakina acknowledged the closeness of that match. 'It was very close. Throughout the match, of course, I had some little opportunities but in the end of the third set, I think Aryna stepped up,' Rybakina said. 'She served much better. Yeah, she deserved that win.'
Building on Experience and Momentum
Rybakina emphasised how much has changed since that defeat, stating, 'So of course, many years passed (since then), a lot of matches have been played. Hopefully with all the experience which I got from that last match, last time (the) final I played here, I can bring it on Saturday and do my best.' Her determination is clear as she vows, 'Fight till the end, and hopefully this time it's going to go my way.'
The Kazakh player has carried strong momentum from her WTA Finals win into this year's Australian Open, backing up a commanding quarter-final victory over world number two Iga Swiatek with a powerful performance against sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. 'Definitely very happy to be in the final again,' Rybakina expressed. 'I was close other years, seasons, when I played semis in the other slams, but yeah, now I'm closer, which is great. It's just one step to go.'
Sabalenka's Dominant Path to the Final
On the other side of the net, Aryna Sabalenka has also been in formidable form, not dropping a set in her six matches as she aims for her third Australian Open title in four years. The Belarusian powerhouse, who was stunned by American Madison Keys in last year's final while defending her title, is determined to reclaim the trophy and add to her collection of four major crowns.
This highly anticipated final promises to be a thrilling clash between two of the sport's biggest hitters, both in peak condition and hungry for victory. Live coverage of the match will begin at 7.30pm AEDT on Saturday, with Channel Nine broadcasting the action from Rod Laver Arena.
