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Sabalenka vows to conquer final demons
31 Jan
Summary
- Sabalenka aims to win third Australian Open title.
- Rybakina seeks repeat of 2023 final match.
- Both players reached the final without dropping a set.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to contest her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, facing Elena Rybakina in a repeat of the 2023 championship match. Sabalenka expressed confidence that she has learned from previous final losses, including painful close defeats in the past year, and is ready to implement a different mentality to secure her third Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka has advanced to the final without dropping a set, a feat matched by her opponent, Rybakina. This marks Rybakina's first Grand Slam final in three years, despite a recent turbulent period including a temporary suspension of her coach, Stefano Vukov, which was later lifted. Rybakina's powerful game and serve, with 41 aces so far, pose a significant challenge.
The head-to-head record between Sabalenka and Rybakina stands at 8-6 in Sabalenka's favor. However, they split their matches last year, with Rybakina winning their most recent encounter at the WTA Finals in November, indicating a closely contested final.
