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The Australian Open women’s final has arrived for 2023, with reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina taking on world number five Aryna Sabalenka for the right to hold the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Join The Roar for game-by-game updates and rolling coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Ash Barty’s retirement last year has left a vacuum at the top of the women’s game, and 23-year old Rybakina has taken significant steps to filling it.
After spectacularly breaking out at last year’s Wimbledon, the Kazakhstani star has the chance this evening to join Barty, Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek as multiple grand slam champions since the great Serena Williams’ 23rd and last title, at Melbourne Park six years ago.
Since controversially beginning her tournament in the hinterlands of Court 13 despite being a reigning grand slam champion, Rybakina has dropped just one set – to 2022 Aus Open finallist Danielle Collins in the third round.
After knocking out world No.1 and tournament favourite Iga Swiatek in the round of 16 and ousting former champion Victoria Azarenka in the semi-finals, her hard-hitting game seems primed for plenty of major success in the years to come.
Owing to the stripping of WTA points from Wimbledon last year due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, Rybakina’s seeding of 22 for this tournament was never a reflection of her talent; but she will earn a top-ten ranking next week regardless of the result in the final, and can finish as high as number eight with a win.
Sabalenka has been a constant presence inside the WTA top 10 since a breakout 2020 season, but this is the brutal-striking Belarusian’s first grand slam final.
Having made and lost tight three-setters in all three of her previous slam semi-finals, this was only a matter of time for the 24-year old, who heads into the decider at Melbourne Park as a slender favourite after her power game proved too hot for Magda Linette to handle in a one-sided semi-final.
Sabalenka, though, will have to beat herself as much as Rybakina to claim the trophy: her bad habit of double-faults and errant forehands at crucial times have regularly made life difficult for her in the past. However, she is yet to drop a set this tournament, and seems ready to at last break through at a grand slam and announce herself as one of women’s tennis’ finest.
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Start: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Channel 9
Live stream: 9Now, Stan Sport
Betting: Rybakina $2.05, Sabalenka $1.78 – odds via PlayUp
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Start: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Channel 9
Live stream: 9Now, Stan Sport
Betting: Rybakina $2.05, Sabalenka $1.78 – odds via PlayUp
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