{"id":450330,"date":"2026-01-31T21:43:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T21:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/450330\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T21:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T21:43:09","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-admits-elena-rybakina-handled-pressure-moment-better-in-australian-open-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/450330\/","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka admits Elena Rybakina handled pressure moment better in Australian Open final"},"content":{"rendered":"

There was a moment in the Australian Open final when Aryna Sabalenka realised victory had slipped through her fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the help of a service break, Sabalenka led Elena Rybakina 3-0 in the third and deciding set, appearing destined to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup yet again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rybakina takes down Sabalenka<\/a><\/p>\n

Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open with a stunning three-set victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who loses in the final for the second straight year.<\/p>\n

But in front of a heaving crowd under the roof of Rod Laver Arena, it soon began unravelling for the world number one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rybakina held serve in the fourth game of the set and then immediately broke Sabalenka to trail 3-2.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another service hold meant the Kazakhstani had levelled at 3-3 before the turning point arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 15-40 in the seventh game, Sabalenka faced two break points. One was saved but an unforced error via her forehand gave Rybakina a 4-3 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sabalenka now knew she was no longer in control of the match.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She theatrically remonstrated with her coaching team and released frustration on an unsuspecting racquet during the following two games, prior to her fifth-seeded opponent serving for the match at 5-4.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Aryna<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka’s racquet was on the receiving end of her frustration. (AP: Dita Alangkara)<\/p>\n

Sabalenka \u2014 the Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024 \u2014 tried in vain but could do nothing to stop Rybakina, who secured her second major title with an ace to complete a riveting 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 triumph<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I was 3-0 [in the third set]. I lost my focus and it was 3-4,” reflected a glum Sabalenka, when she addressed reporters after the final.<\/p>\n

“She did a better job in handling that pressure moment, that’s for sure.”<\/p>\n

\"Aryna<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka could not hide her disappointment after losing the final. (AP: Dita Alangkara)<\/p>\n

Losing a second consecutive Australian Open final hurt enough but knowing she was on top in the third set only added salt to Sabalenka’s wounds.<\/p>\n

“Maybe I should have tried to be more aggressive on my serve, knowing that I have a break and put pressure on her,” Sabalenka said.<\/p>\n

“But she played incredible. She made some winners. I made couple of unforced errors.<\/p>\n

“Of course, I have regrets \u2026 you lead 3-0 and then it felt like in few seconds it was 3-4 and I was down a break.<\/p>\n

“So it was very fast. Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me.”<\/p>\n

Rybakina’s winning strategy<\/p>\n

Rybakina’s fightback in the final set did not need a spark of inspiration, nor an emotional rallying cry.<\/p>\n

Instead, a refusal to panic was the key.<\/p>\n

Rybakina proves she is no one hit wonder with AO title<\/a><\/p>\n

A consistent and composed Elena Rybakina claims her maiden Australian Open title by beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final.<\/p>\n

“I’m happy that being down [on the scoreboard], I was able to calm myself down,” Rybakina said.<\/p>\n

“Not be frustrated anymore and just focus on each point and stay closer to the score.”<\/p>\n

Rybakina’s win avenged her tense three-set loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final, when the Belarusian claimed her first major.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka was considered the favourite on Saturday evening, given her previous results at Melbourne Park and the fact she did not drop a set on her way to the tournament decider.<\/p>\n

But Rybakina \u2014 who won Wimbledon in 2022 \u2014 was never a rank outsider.<\/p>\n

She too had not lost a set prior to the final, and among her earlier victories was an impressive 7-5, 6-1 defeat of six-time major champion and second seed, Iga \u015awi\u0105tek.<\/p>\n

\"Elena<\/p>\n

Elena Rybakina has now won two major titles. (AP: Dita Alangkara)<\/p>\n

Rybakina had also beaten Sabalenka in straight sets the last time they met, winning the title match at last November’s WTA Finals in Riyadh.<\/p>\n

“Aryna is a very tough opponent, but I’m super happy that this time I’m holding the trophy,” Rybakina said.<\/p>\n

It will be 12 months until Sabalenka gets another chance to lift the silverware in Melbourne, which is cold comfort for the 27-year-old.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, there are three more opportunities this season to gain redemption at the majors, which is not lost on Sabalenka.<\/p>\n

“It’s tennis \u2014 today you’re the loser, tomorrow you’re the winner,” Sabalenka said.<\/p>\n

“Hopefully, I’ll be more of a winner this season than a loser. Hoping right now and praying.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There was a moment in the Australian Open final when Aryna Sabalenka realised victory had slipped through her…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":450331,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[4909,64,63,6571,232888,20336,2649,232887,26582,188599,221809,85,747,114692,158483],"class_list":["post-450330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-aryna-sabalenka","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-open","tag-daphne-akhurst","tag-elena-rybakina","tag-final","tag-grand-slan","tag-major","tag-melbourne-park","tag-rod-laver-arena","tag-sports","tag-tennis","tag-trophy","tag-womens-final"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=450330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/450331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=450330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=450330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=450330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}