Pawan Kumar
Australian Open 2023
Elena Rybakina, who had just won Wimbledon, had to start the Australian Open 2023 on Court 13, which was definitely a step down. She will finish it on the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, no matter what happens.
Aryna Sabalenka started the Australian Open 2023 as a player who had lost in the semi-finals of three Grand Slam singles tournaments. This was not a good record for one of the most fierce players on the women’s tour. She will finish it on the last day, Saturday, no matter what happens.
It’s a statement from both of them to be one step away from the title. It promises to be a brutal power game battle, which is why their semi-finals on Thursday were both won in straight sets.
Australian Open 2023
Rybakina, a Kazakh who was born in Moscow and has a strong serve, beat two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3. This is the third Slam champion that Rybakina has beaten at Melbourne Park in a row, after Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko. So far, the 23-year-old has played in the finals of two of the last three Grand Slams. She is just restating why her win at Wimbledon last year, when she was stripped of ranking points, was not a fluke.
https://twitter.com/ZhangSh18823562/status/1618703522694066176
A couple of hours later, Sabalenka of Belarus quickly beat Magda Linette of Poland, who was in her first Slam final at age 30. She won 7-6(1), 6-2, and hasn’t lost a set in the two weeks of the season-opening Slam. Make that a singles final, at least, after three missed shots at the last two US Opens and the Wimbledon in 2021.
Sabalenka, who is 24 years old, said on court, “I’m just so happy that I was able to get this win.”
When told that her average forehand speed was about the same as the men’s pros, the world’s No. 5 tennis player air-kissed her biceps and said, “I hit really slow balls today.” On a more serious note, Rybakina said the same thing after her match. She said that her shots weren’t going as fast under the lights as they usually do in the hot sun. It could be one of the things that makes the difference in the final.
“The conditions were different and harder. I couldn’t play my usual aggressive tennis against one of the best returners, Azarenka, said Rybakina, who has the most aces in the tournament so far.
Australian Open 2023
Rybakina’s match started with a double fault, but she got back on track with a serve that was not returned and three straight aces. Talk about making an early impression. Rybakina got off to a good start, but Azarenka won a backhand slice and net duel in the fifth game to get the first strike and the break. But Rybakina couldn’t be stopped for long. The Kazakh was calling the shots from the baseline, and Azarenka couldn’t do anything but move the ball to the other side of the court. Rybakina broke Azarenka again to even things up and make it 5-3.
Rybakina suddenly lost her deadly first weapon when she was serving for the set, and Azarenka found a great forehand down the line passing winner when set point came up. As Rybakina’s number of first serves went down (48% for the set), Azarenka was able to hold on and force a tiebreaker. That’s when the experienced Belarusian, who was mostly tight from her end to the barrage from the other, let loose with those unforced errors and a double fault as Rybakina slowly moved ahead.
Also Read: The Last of Us Part 3 may never be released.
In the second set, there was no way to stop her. Not when she won the third game with a backhand return winner and broke to love while Azarenka, a PSG fan, kicked the ball in anger. Even though Rybakina served well, she also won 41 of the 49 return points, putting Azarenka under pressure from the start and keeping it up. After two double faults and a wild forehand, Azarenka’s serve and spirit were broken again.
Australian Open 2023
Similar to how Linette was during the second half of her semi-final match with Sabalenka. Sabalenka’s serve has been one of her biggest problems, but Rybakina’s hasn’t been. If it holds up in Melbourne, the Russian’s power game could take over. And the Pole just couldn’t deal with that much.
Linette got off to a good start with an early break, but Sabalenka was right back in the game as soon as she started making shots. In the tiebreaker, her range and rhythm were at their best. The Russian didn’t look at the Pole at all, and there was only one point between them. In the second set, Sabalenka continued to be the better player. Linette hit a backhand out of bounds in the third game, giving Sabalenka the break. Soon after, she got the double break, giving her a 4-1 lead. The difference between the two was the number of winners. Sabalenka had 33, while Linett only had nine.
Australian Open 2023
Sabalenka knows that by Saturday, that might not be the case. “She is an amazing player,” Sabalenka said of Rybakina. “She plays great tennis, is very aggressive, and has been to a final before.”
The Kazakh wants to use what he learned about enjoying the moment in London a little over six months ago to do the same in Melbourne. “I’m going to do my best, fight, and hopefully win.”
