Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina managed the decisive moments and defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final for the first time.

The consequence of that shift is evident in a run to the final that has been even more impressive than her first. Against Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, in slower, cold night conditions, she could not summon the level of her previous rounds. She received no respect with court assignments and her low seeding, still outside the top 20 due to the lack of points on offer at Wimbledon, meant she received far more difficult draws than a reigning grand slam champion would otherwise get. She broke serve quickly in the second set after a flurry of Azarenka mistakes and her own serve returned in full. As Rybakina’s greater weight of shot, with the power she generates so easily, met Azarenka’s incessant depth and industriousness, Rybakina moved ahead. Even as both players looked to take the initiative and dominate the baseline, this match was always going to be told in its contrasts.

MELBOURNE — Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. Rybakina encountered similar issues and her occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are rather misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. “Kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. She delivered serves at up to 117 mph and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will on Thursday. It wasn’t the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers. “For sure, they’re very experienced players,” said Rybakina, whose parents and sister have been in town throughout the Australian Open. “In the tiebreaker, I really found my rhythm,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka is far less cautious, though, and her penchant for high-risk, high-reward play was evident against Linette, who had never before been past the third round in 29 appearances at majors.

Aryna Sabalenka ends Magda Linette's shock run at the Australian Open and sets up a women's singles final with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

It’s a very exclusive club. I know that Vika will do everything she can to make it happen. Would love to see her join the club of women who have become champions after having a baby. it was great tennis from me on the tie break." By Paul Johnson I will do everything I can to make it happen."

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is into her second major final after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semifinals.

A sixth double fault from Azarenka gave Rybakina triple-break point and the Wimbledon champion converted after Azarenka's final shot landed in the net. In the end, I just was playing point by point no matter score. A clean return winner at 5-2, 30-40 gave the 33-year-old one break back, but Rybakina closed out the match on her return. Rybakina kept the sustained pressure on Azarenka's serve, breaking on five of 11 break points. "Not a great feeling right now to digest. Having lost just one set in the tournament, Rybakina proved a formidable frontrunner. But Rybakina broke straight back and settled herself on serve to take a 4-3 lead. As Azarenka's serve began to falter, Rybakina grabbed a second break to lead 5-2. Playing in her first Australian Open semifinal, Rybakina faced a major champion for the third straight match. This time it was Rybakina's turn to withstand the pressure on her serve. MELBOURNE, Australia -- Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced to her second major final, defeating former No.1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals. Azarenka finished with 17 winners and 13 unforced errors.

Victoria Azarenka's inspired run in Melbourne has come to a halt at the hands of Elena Rybakina.

“For sure I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and, to be honest, I just want to come on court and really enjoy the moment, enjoy the atmosphere because it’s really amazing,” she said. She rallied from 5-3 down and set point in the eighth game to take the first set to a tiebreaker, only to lose it with a wild forehand error on Rybakina’s second set point. Whoever she plays for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, Rybakina is promising to play with more freedom than she did in last year’s nerve-wracking Wimbledon final. “It’s an incredible atmosphere and I’m super happy to be in the finals and play one more time here.” [Wimbledon](https://7news.com.au/sport/wimbledon) champion Elena Rybakina has ended Victoria Azarenka’s inspired run to be the first woman through to the [Australian Open](https://7news.com.au/sport/australian-open) final in Melbourne. Azarenka was the last player to successfully defend the women’s crown at Melbourne Park, going back-to-back in 2012 and 2013, and was bidding to join greats Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Kim Clijsters as only the fourth mother to win a grand slam singles crown.

MELBOURNE, Australia — It will be strength against strength and power against power in the Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday.

She has beaten three straight Grand Slam singles champions to reach this final: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Azarenka, a 33-year-old Belarusian who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Sabalenka is seeded fifth and Rybakina 22nd, but that does not tell the whole tale. And yet her inconsistency and combustibility have, until now, kept her from reaching the top. But after losing her first three Grand Slam singles semifinals, she is now into her first final. “It was great tennis from me in the tiebreak.” The outcomes were strong. Both have lifted their games to new levels since then. The year’s first Grand Slam event runs from Jan. Rybakina, 23, is a quiet intimidator: her big serves and rolling, deep groundstrokes applying constant pressure. Rybakina is self-contained and difficult to read, maintaining an even keel throughout her matches. In this Australian Open, 16 to Jan.