ELENA RYBAKINA completed a stunning final-set comeback to be crowned queen Down Under.
The former Wimbledon champion, 26, shocked world No1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 to win her first Australian Open crown.
In a repeat of the 2023 Melbourne final and November’s WTA Finals showdown, the big-serving Kazakhstani broke at the beginning of the match to claim the first set.
But Sabalenka – appearing in a fourth straight Oz final – came roaring back, suddenly breaking to love to clinch the second.
In truth, there was very little between the two women who were producing high-quality tennis and immense hitting.
Ten games apiece, one break apiece showed that.
But after both players headed off court at the end of the second set, it was Sabalenka who took the momentum into the third-set shootout.
She took Rybakina’s opening service game in the decider to nudge in front and made it five games in a row.
It appeared the four-time Major winner was well on course for a third Australian Open crown.
However, the Kazakhstani battled back, breaking back in game five to get on serve again.
And Rybakina made it back-to-back breaks to win four games in a row and serve at 4-3 up.
It was soon five on the trot and Sabalenka was suddenly serving to stay in the final.
She held, asking to see if Rybakina could serve it out.
And she did it in style, firing down a sixth thundering ace on her first match point to seal her second Grand Slam title.
Rybakina and Sabalenka, incredibly, both won 92 points in the final and the other key stats were very even.
The champion, though, grabbed the momentum and shifted it her way when it mattered most.
Rybakina, who as usual kept her celebrations very muted at the end of the two-hour-18-minute battle, said: “It’s hard to find words now but of course I was to congratulate Aryna for amazing results, I knows it’s tough but I hope we play more finals together.
“Thank you guys for such an incredible atmosphere, it was a battle and your support kept us going.
“Thank you to Kazakhstan – I felt the support from that corner of fans a lot.
“This really is the Happy Slam and I always enjoy coming here.
“Thank you to my team, without you it would not be possible. I’m really glad we achieved this result.”
For Sabalenka, she has lost three of her last four Major finals, after defeats to Madison Keys in Australia 12 months ago and Coco Gauff in June’s French Open.
She said in her on-court speech: “Hoenstly guys, I’m really speechless.
“I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible run, incredible tennis, an incredible achievement.
“I love being here and playing in front of you.
“Let’s hope maybe next year will be a better year for me.
“Thank you to my team for being there for my losing finals and also sometimes winning them.”
When she struggled to find her words, one fan shouted out: “We love you.”
Sabalenka replied: “I love you guys, too.”
Earlier on the Rod Laver Arena, Brit Neal Skupski and new partner American Christian Harrison beat Aussie duo Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans 7-6 6-4 in the men’s doubles final.
Like Rybakina, that was Skupski’s second Grand Slam title after winning Wimbledon and ended his wretched run of seven final defeats in a row.
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