‘The wait is over!’ – Twitter rejoices as Aryna Sabalenka wins her first grand slam title in Australia Open

On Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in the women’s final of the Australian Open 2023. The 24-year-old Belarussian won her first Grand Slam title. Sabalenka lost the first set but made a brilliant comeback to defeat Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in three sets that lasted 34 minutes, 57 minutes, and 57 minutes, respectively.

Both Rybakina and Sabalenka play a similar style of tennis, relying on big serves and big hitting from the baseline. Earlier, Rybakina, a 23-year-old from Kazakhstan, defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Melbourne Park to earn a spot in the final. Sabalenka, on the other hand, advanced to her first Grand Slam final by defeating unseeded Magda Linette 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the second semifinal.

With her 11th straight win of the year, the Belarussian will reclaim her career-high ranking of a second behind Iga Swiatek, reaping the benefits of her improved mental stability and service to emerge as a genuine threat in major tournaments.

After fifth-seeded Sabalenka dropped her huge serve with a double fault and sent a forehand long, Rybakina went up 3-1 with a comfortable hold, but the Kazakh succumbed to pressure and allowed her opponent to level the opening set at 4-4.

Rybakina responded quickly, turning up the heat in the windy conditions at Rod Laver Arena to take another break as Sabalenka double-faulted for the fifth time, and went on to seal the set with a big serve that the Belarusian returned into the net.

It was the first time in 11 matches that Adelaide champion Sabalenka had dropped a set, and the nerves began to show before the 24-year-old composed herself and saved two breakpoints in the first game of the next set.

Sabalenka then broke but had to overcome a wobble to take a 4-1 lead, after which she let out a huge roar and levelled the match with her 11th and 12th aces to force a third set at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka served with venom and hammered deep returns in the decider to breach Rybakina’s defence and take a 5-3 lead. She then double-faulted on one matchpoint and squandered two more before eventually winning the Australian Open.

Here is how Twitter reacted

https://twitter.com/rodlaver/status/1619297567707373570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1619297567707373570%7Ctwgr%5E2c118922480818fc0b89960d0bb54bdd944e62f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2Frodlaver2Fstatus2F1619297567707373570widget%3DTweet

https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1619292581803819008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1619292581803819008%7Ctwgr%5Ebc64e40392a764e5c00771b5ef1c95df0fc46260%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FESPNAusNZ2Fstatus2F1619292581803819008widget%3DTweet

https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/1619292746078109697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1619292746078109697%7Ctwgr%5Ec38d9ba15569b6de2f030f28842eb25a152cd62d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2Fchristophclarey2Fstatus2F1619292746078109697widget%3DTweet

The wait is over!

Aryna Sabalenka is into her first Grand Slam final. pic.twitter.com/rR0fjIGcx4

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 26, 2023

BREAKING! Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open 🎾🥇 pic.twitter.com/64kqO3aFch

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 28, 2023

At last, a Grand Slam title for Aryna Sabalenka! pic.twitter.com/SGA1qKtyge

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 28, 2023

SABALENKA GETS HER GRAND SLAM 🏆

So impressive, Aryna Sabalenka triumphs at @australianopen defeating Elena Rybakina after a huge final 4-6 6-3 6-4!

CONGRATS Aryna 👏 pic.twitter.com/Y32f1Lj4M0

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 28, 2023

https://twitter.com/eurosport/status/1619292707809292288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1619292707809292288%7Ctwgr%5E381598c9f4321bc93462548f67fa0747cb691756%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2Feurosport2Fstatus2F1619292707809292288widget%3DTweet

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1619292858866962433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1619292858866962433%7Ctwgr%5Ed581b33956bcae40a38c253fc41d5b218df98bc9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FBBCSport2Fstatus2F1619292858866962433widget%3DTweet

24yo Aryna Sabalenka is a GRAND SLAM champion!

Beats Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a fantastic final to win the #AusOpen.

11-0 to start 2023, well deserved. pic.twitter.com/PadtM4hrGw

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 28, 2023