Australian Open: Rybakina wins maiden title, China's Zhang tastes women's doubles success

MELBOURNE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- World number five Elena Rybakina powered past top seed Aryna Sabalenka to win a nerve-jangling Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday, while China's Zhang Shuai won her third Grand Slam women's doubles title on the penultimate day of the tournament.

Under the closed roof at Rod Laver Arena, Kazakhstan's Rybakina overcame Belarussian Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes.

Rybakina sealed her second Grand Slam title with an ace and celebrated in low-key fashion with a fist pump.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion upset favored Sabalenka with formidable firepower, strong serving and resilience after having been down 0-3 in the deciding set.

It was sweet revenge after Rybakina had been left heartbroken in the 2023 final when Sabalenka came from behind in a three-set classic.

"It was a battle and your support (the crowd) kept me going," said the 26-year-old Rybakina. "I always enjoy coming here. Hopefully we can keep going strong this year."

It was a bitter disappointment for Sabalenka, who was contesting her fourth straight final at the Australian Open, but she has now lost two in a row having been stunned 12 months ago by Madison Keys.

Before this match, Sabalenka had won 26 of her last 27 matches at Melbourne Park.

Only Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Martina Hingis had previously reached at least four straight Australian Open finals in the professional era.

"I love being here. Let's hope that next [Australian Open] is going to be a better year for me," said Sabalenka, who remains anchored on four Grand Slam titles.

In a match with wicked shifts of momentum, Sabalenka finished with 35 winners to 28 and just one more unforced error but only converted two of eight break points.

The much-anticipated final lived up to top billing with Sabalenka and Rybakina entering having not dropped a set en route to the final.

Rybakina settled better to clinch a 37-minute first set marked by brute force, but she also showcased a deft touch to flummox Sabalenka.

Much like their classic from three years ago, Sabalenka mounted a comeback and her outstanding athleticism helped shift the momentum.

Sabalenka was on the brink of the title at 3-0 in the deciding set before Rybakina dug deep to flip the match on its head.

Rybakina, fittingly, sealed her triumph with an ace to end her four-year title drought at majors.

Earlier in the women's doubles final, Zhang combined with Belgium's Elise Mertens to beat seventh seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (4), 6-4 in one hour and 48 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

It is the first major title for the pairing of Mertens and Zhang, who shared a successful reunion having not played together since a runners-up finish at Wimbledon 2022.

Zhang, a former No. 2 ranked doubles player, had previously won the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 US Open alongside Australian Samantha Stosur.

"Very special. We show every team how good we are," Zhang said. "We played so many great teams."

It was Mertens' sixth major title and third in Melbourne as she ascends to the No. 1 doubles ranking.

"I knew if we would win the semis, that I would be number one again, so that was definitely a motivation to do well," Mertens said.

"Of course I was not really thinking about the spot. I was thinking about this trophy in the first place, but it does mean a lot."

It was a disappointment for Danilina and Krunic, who were runners-up at last year's French Open.

The Kazakh-Serb pairing made a fast start to lead 3-0 only to be reeled in by Zhang and Mertens, who shook off the cobwebs but could not convert two set points in the 12th game.

They regrouped to dominate the tiebreak and the momentum spilled over in the second set, where they powered to a 5-0 lead.

But nerves set in and they could not convert two match points in the eighth game before Zhang clinched the title with a backhand winner and she shared an embrace with Mertens.

In the men's doubles final, sixth-seeded Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski spoiled the home party by beating Australian wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans 7-6 (4), 6-4.

In the women's wheelchair final, China's Li Xiaohui thrashed Diede De Groot 6-1, 6-2.

The 15-day tournament concludes on Sunday with the men's singles final between top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who is seeking a record 25th grand slam triumph. ■