The two best players in Melbourne meet in the final as Sabalenka aims to continue her incredible run to clinch a first grand slam
, she was struggling. Sabalenka tried to hold off her challenger, but every service game was a desperate battle. She faced 10 break points in four consecutive games, and could have cracked.
Yet every time Sabalenka was pressured she remained calm as she stepped up to the baseline and produced an enormous serve or explosive forehand. Sabalenka survived the set, and never looked back.For so much of her career, Sabalenka has been known for her volatility, both in terms of her emotions and playing style, but her first grand slam final has been a product of restraint and patience.
“Before I was trying to go for aces, go for crazy shots to get easily out, to get out easily from that situations,” she said. “Right now I keep saying, like, ‘No, work for it. It’s not going to be easy. You have your shots, you have your serve’. Just work for it and go for bigger targets. That’s just a different approach.”
Not every attacking player can fully grasp how to pair their power with greater margin for error, but throughout this tournament, along withafter spending much of last year constantly double faulting, it has been remarkable to see how Sabalenka has fully committed to playing more sustainable tennis. There are times when players in top form meet too early in a grand slam and other events can look lopsided by the end, but as Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina face off in their first Melbourne final there is no doubt these are the two best players of the tournament.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian Open 2023 semi-finals: Rybakina beats Azarenka, Linette v Sabalenka – liveThursday is women’s semi-final day at Melbourne Park: Elena Rybakina v Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette v Aryna Sabalenka. Join Luke McLaughlin
Read more »
Rybakina, Sabalenka to meet in women’s finalThe women’s final will see two players with similar approaches to the game: big serves and big hitting at the baseline.
Read more »
Rybakina powers into Australian Open finalWimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will seek her second grand slam title in the Australian Open final after a stirring victory over dual-champion Victoria Azarenka on Thursday night.
Read more »
Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka swats aside Linette to reach first slam finalAryna Sabalenka reached her first grand-slam final with an impressive 7-6 (1), 6-2 victory over Magda Linette
Read more »
Sabalenka verging on strange slam firstThe Belarusian powered her way through to the final and has a chance to make history. 9WWOS
Read more »