Melbourne [Australia], January 31 (ANI): Following her Australian Open win, making her the primary Kazakh participant to win the title, the world quantity 5 Elena Rybakina exclaimed that it was ‘actually a Happy Slam’.
Rybakina made historical past, changing into the primary Kazakh participant to seize the Australian Open girls’s singles title, defeating the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set contest on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, as quoted by the Australian Open’s official web site, Rybakina mentioned, ‘It was a battle. I’m actually proud. It is known as a Happy Slam (referring to the event’s nickname).’
‘I’m actually glad that we achieved this consequence … hopefully we will carry on going robust this 12 months,’ mentioned Rybakina whereas declaring her crew’s function in her success.
She additionally expressed hope that she and Sabalenka, the top-ranked participant, would have extra title clashes collectively.
‘I do know it’s powerful, however I simply hope that we’re going to play many extra finals collectively,’ she mentioned.
Sabalenka congratulated Rybakina on her ‘unbelievable run’ and vowed to seize the prize subsequent 12 months.
‘Let us hope that subsequent 12 months, Daphne (the trophy’s title is Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup) goes to be ours, proper?’ mentioned Sabalenka after her loss, turning to her crew.
This is Rybakina’s second main title after the Wimbledon 2022 title, having turn into the first-ever Kazakhstani to win Wimbledon as nicely. The world quantity 5 provides one other first to her resume, beating Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to safe the title, as per WTA’s official web site.
She has now avenged the loss again in 2023 by Sabalenka, when she was first denied the Aussie glory simply months after profitable the Wimbledon title.
At the Rod Lever Arena, the 26-year-old Kazakh star took two hours and 18 minutes to win the title, hanging 28 winners to begin off the 12 months with a Grand Slam.
The trophy was offered to her by Jennifer Capriati, the Australian Open girls’s singles champion in 2001 and 2002, as per the event’s official web site.
They entered the Grand Slam remaining with out dropping a set, first since Wimbledon 2008 and the primary in Australia since 2004.
In their fifteenth head-to-head match-up, it was Rybakina’s class which earned her the victory. The fifth seed broke Sabalenka in her opening serving sport, and her photographs have been clear and highly effective
This win makes Rybakina the sixth participant within the Open Era to safe her first two main titles on grass and onerous court docket after Amelie Mauresmo, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Maria Hingis and Venus Williams. She can also be the primary to safe the Australian Open singles girls’s crown by beating the highest three-ranked gamers, since Naomi Osaka gained it again in 2019. (ANI)