Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elena Rybakina in Australian Open final to claim first major championship

Aryna Sabalenka converted on her fourth championship point to win her first major singles title, defeating Elena Rybakina in a tense three-setter in the Australian Open women’s final.

Fifth-seeded Sabalenka, making her debut in a major singles final, prevailed against Wimbledon champion Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 28 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Overcome with emotion after clinching the win, Sabalenka became the second Belarusian to claim Australian Open honours after Victoria Azarenka enjoyed back-to-back victories in 2012 and 2013.

The result will see the 24-year-old equal her career-high ranking of number two in the world when the WTA standings are released on Monday.

Rybakina will vault into the top 10 for the first time, having arrived at Melbourne Park ranked 25.

With the match having entered a deciding third set, Sabalenka got a vital break of serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead against Kazakh Rybakina.

She later served for the set at 5-4, but the moment was not without drama.

After earning a championship point with an ace, Sabalenka blew the opportunity with a double fault, while a wayward forehand cost her a second chance to wrap up the win.

After saving a break point, Sabalenka eventually had a third chance to seal victory but a backhand unforced error was her undoing this time.

She finally found her composure to ice the win, before falling on the court behind the baseline in tears, as she realised what she had just accomplished.

“Thanks to my team, the craziest team on tour. We went through a lot of lows last year but we worked so hard,” Sabalenka said at the trophy presentation.

“You deserve this trophy more than me.”

It could not be described as a complete performance from Sabalenka, who recorded seven double faults for the match and committed 28 unforced errors.

But her power game came to the fore when needed, as she dominated the winners’ column with 51 to Rybakina’s 31, while sending down 17 aces when her serve found its target.

Rybakina starts brightly

The fragility of Sabalenka’s serve has been well-documented during her career and she could not have made a worst start to the match when she doubled-faulted in the opening point.

But she followed up immediately with an ace and served another to hold serve.

Rybakina dominated her opening service game, firing down three consecutive aces to level at 1-1.

It seemed Sabalenka would comfortably hold serve in the third game when another two aces helped her shoot out to a 40-0 advantage.

But Rybakina won five straight points — a stretch that included a double fault from Sabalenka — to grab the first service break of the match.

As the set wore on, Rybakina had the upper hand until she slipped up in the eighth game when serving at 4-3.

Sabalenka grabbed three break points, converting on the second with a crisp backhand passing shot as the set went back on serve.

All of Sabalenka’s hard work, however, was squandered in the very next game.

She coughed up two break points and although she saved the first, a double fault on the second meant Rybakina was serving for the set at 5-4.

The 23-year-old made no mistake, as she secured the first set after 34 minutes on court.

Sabalenka experienced the serving yips in the opening game of the second set when she faced two break points.

Impressively, she saved both and won the game by effectively applying pressure to Rybakina’s forehand.

With Rybakina serving in the fourth game, Sabalenka twice had a break point and converted on the second when her opponent went long with a forehand return.

She consolidated the break to lead 4-1, although not without some nervous moments. A double fault saw Sabalenka face a break point, but she was able to recover and won the game with an ace.

Rybakina held serve in a marathon sixth game, despite giving up three break points. She struggled again in the seventh game when she was down two set points, however responded to hold and trail 3-5.

Sabalenka served out the second set — punctuated by an ace — to level the match.