“Really two good weeks,” Elena Rybakina looks on the positives after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final

Elena Rybakina believes the loss will motivate her for the next tournaments.


“Really two good weeks,” Elena Rybakina looks on the positives after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final

Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka

Kazakhstan star Elena Rybakina is the runner-up in the 2023 Australian Open. In an intense final that lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes, she lost to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at Rod Laver Arena. The 2022 Wimbledon champion failed to replicate the brilliant game she produced in the tournament and fell short of Sabalenka’s winners.  

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Despite the heartbreaking loss, Rybakina is already calm and looks to take the positives of the tournament. It’s not wise to lose heart after putting up a champion performance throughout the tournament, she believes. 

“Of course, not the result I wanted today. But I think overall it was a really good two weeks for me. Really tough match today,” she said expressing her feelings about the game. “So it’s just motivation for the next tournaments,” she added. 

Though she fell short of the title, Rybakina’s final appearance will thrust her to the top 10 of the ranking. But, as far as the 23-year-old is concerned the numbers will not bring much change as she is more focused on the process. “I don’t think tomorrow I’m going to feel different just because of the ranking now,” Rybakina acknowledged. 

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Related: Aryna Sabalenka is the Australian Open champion

Lack of aggression could have cost her the title, Rybakina believes 

Elena Rybakina

Putting up a brilliant show of skills, Rybakina took the first set from Sabalenka. Things looked really good for the Kazakh. But from the second set her game went south and she could not pull the game back. Rybakina pointed out that her opponent was also mentally stronger than her and that was the major difference between their games.

“I think Aryna raise her level in the second set. She played really well, aggressive, a bit fewer mistakes. I should have been also more aggressive in some moments,” said Rybakina.

One of the biggest improvements that Sabalenka made was her serve and Rybakina respected that. “She served really well today no matter the double faults. Few second serve she hit probably as a first serve. She didn’t have great serve last year, but now she was super strong and she served well.” 

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Sabalenka is the one who puts Elena Rybakina under pressure 

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

The Russian-origin champion has played against some of the top players on the tour. She defeated Ons Jabeur in 2022 to clinch the Wimbledon title. But it is Sabalenka who really puts her under pressure, Rybakina revealed.

“I would say that not many girls can put me really under the pressure. Against her, it’s not easy because she has a great serve and she plays really aggressively. Yeah, there are maybe a few girls who play like this,” Rybakina admitted. 

This may not be the result Rybakina was expecting. She would have really loved to lift the trophy at Rod Laver Arena. But win and loss are just part of the game and Rybakina knows it very well. She will not take long to bounce back for the Australian Open was just the beginning of the season. 

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