<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">An emotional Aryna Sabalenka battled back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina and win the Australian Open on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The hard-hitting Belarusian collapsed to the court in tears after winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against the Wimbledon champion in a 2hr 28min arm-wrestle on Rod Laver Arena.</div><div><br></div><div>The 24-year-old Sabalenka wiped away tears before getting a warm hug from Moscow-born Rybakina, who played a full part in a thrilling match between two of the most powerful hitters in the women's game.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabalenka, the fifth seed, then ran to her player's box to celebrate with her team.</div><div><br></div><div>"Thank you, my team, the craziest team on the tour. We've been through a lot of I would say downs last year," Sabalenka said, addressing her team after receiving the trophy.</div><div><br></div><div>"Thank you so much for what you are doing for me. I love you guys."</div><div><br></div><div>She added: "I want to congratulate Elena for an incredible two weeks. You're such a great player and of course we are going to have many more battles, hopefully in finals of the Grand Slams."</div><div><br></div><div>It was a fitting finale to two weeks of drama at Melbourne Park, highlighted by brutal groundstrokes, precision serving and wonderful rallies from two players at the top of their game.</div><div><br></div><div>- Nerve-shredding -</div><div>Rybakina cruised through the first set in 34 minutes but Sabalenka scrapped her way back in a 57-minute second set to take it to a nervy decider.</div><div><br></div><div>It was then a case of which of the big servers would blink first in a toe-to-toe battle.</div><div><br></div><div>At 3-3 Rybakina -- who represents Kazakhstan-- could not find enough first serves and though she saved two break points, a third was too much and Sabalenka had the finish line in sight.</div><div><br></div><div>An ace took her to 5-3 and Rybakina held to force Sabalenka to test her nerves and serve for the championship.</div><div><br></div><div>She was up to the challenge, but needed four nerve-shredding match points after a display where she hit an astonishing 51 winners and 17 aces to edge past the big-serving Rybakina.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabalenka will now rise to second in the world, equalling her career high.</div><div><br></div><div>Rybakina will have the consolation of breaking into the top 10 for the first time, after reaching her second Grand Slam final in seven months.</div><div><br></div><div>She was awarded no ranking points for her Wimbledon win because of the ban on Russian and Belarusian players there.</div><div><br></div><div>- New ground -</div><div><br></div><div>Both players broke new ground in Melbourne this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Rybakina's previous Australian Open best was a third-round appearance in 2020, while Sabalenka had exited in the fourth round in 2021 and 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabalenka served first in the final and let out a nervous laugh as she immediately double-faulted.</div><div><br></div><div>It was the sort of start that might have induced a bout of nerves in the Sabalenka of 2022, when she dished up 428 double faults, 151 more than any other player on the women's tour.</div><div><br></div><div>But not this year. Her new-found confidence enabled her to respond immediately with an ace and roll through to hold.</div><div><br></div><div>Rybakina had served more aces than any other player, 45, in her run to the final and she rattled off three more in a row to level at 1-1.</div><div><br></div><div>Rybakina fought back from 0-40 to deuce in the next when a second Sabalenka double fault opened the door.</div><div><br></div><div>She stepped through when Sabalenka went wide and consolidated to lead 3-1, then served out with ease to take the first set</div><div><br></div><div>It was the first set that Sabalenka had dropped in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The second set started in similar fashion, Sabalenka holding but under pressure on her serve.</div><div><br></div><div>She showed guts at 1-1 to hold with two aces before forcing a break of her own with her heavy groundstrokes to lead 3-1.</div><div><br></div><div>Another double fault gave Rybakina an immediate break back point which Sabalenka saved with a power-packed backhand winner and a scream of "Come on!" before getting to 4-1.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabalenka, having visibly picked up the pace, took the set.</div><div><br></div><div>The third set was heart-thumpingly tight, both players creating chances only to see their opponent fight back, until Sabalenka finally secured her dream. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>