That final brought out the best and the worst of both players. A passage of sensationally clean Elena Rybakina ballstriking led to a puzzling second set in which she hit a few purposeless moonballs, couldn’t exert pressure on the return, and eventually dropped serve at love.
Aryna Sabalenka controlled most of that set, and the first three games of the third. But up 3-0, her game deserted her. A second serve return on a vital break point scythed outside the sideline. A short forehand on another break point found the net. Rybakina’s clean ballstriking returned for the final act, and Sabalenka’s did in flashes, but by then she was too far behind.
“I actually know what was wrong in all those finals that I played and I lost,” Sabalenka said in press this tournament. If she does, she can’t yet prevent it from ruining her. Her poor record in finals is a part of who she is, for better and worse. It makes her a more telegenic player and a richer character, but unfortunately for her, it does not help move the needle on her major title tally, which remains at four.
Rybakina, meanwhile, won her first major final in three years. She had a shot, and she did not miss. Though she was a bit more demonstrative in this match than she usually is, she was still calmer than many players have been on their most relaxed day. When it came time to serve out, Rybakina didn’t blink, or question the advantage she’d been handed. The cooler head prevailed.