Elena Rybakina stifled her emotions to take revenge over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and win the Australian Open on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title.  The big-serving Kazakh fifth seed fought back from 0-3 in the deciding set to triumph 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena here in 2hrs 18mins. It was payback after the Belarusian Sabalenka won the 2023 final between two of the hardest hitters in women’s tennis. 

Rybakina, 26, who was born in Moscow, adds the Melbourne crown to her Wimbledon win in 2022. Rybakina has a reputation for being unflappable, but she said she was nervous about losing the second set, even though she did not show it, and again as she served for the match. She sealed the championship with her sixth ace of the final.  “Well, the heart definitely was beating too fast, even if maybe my face did not show it,” she told local broadcasters. “Inside was a lot of emotions.”