Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka and her calm tiger
Aryna Sabalenka could become the first neutral player to win a Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Above all, mentally, she made a step.
by SID
last edit: Jan 27, 2023, 12:32 pm
When Aryna Sabalenka bought chocolate seven years ago, she spotted Angelique Kerber. "There was a TV in the cafe," said Sabalenka, "and I thought to myself: great match."
The top German player just played her first Grand Slam final in Melbourne against Serena Williams - and Sabalenka was inspired to some extent by the performance of the later number one in the world.
Kerber wrote sports history, and Sabalenka also wants to do that on Saturday (9.30 a.m. / Eurosport, in Austria on ServusTV and in our live ticker) in the final at the Australian Open against Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. And in two senses.
It would be the first big title for the 24-year-old. At the same time, she would also be the first neutral Grand Slam winner ever. Since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the colors and symbols of Belarus have also been banned from international tennis.
Sabalenka wanted to be a bit more boring
"If, if, if, I don't like to talk about ifs," said Sabalenka before the final when asked if the prospect felt strange: "I just want to do my best." If successful, she is ready to provide information. But first she faces a duel between two real power women.
Both Sabalenka and Rybakina can hit at more than 190 kilometers per hour. And both try to dominate from the baseline with force. It has long been evident that Sabalenka has what it takes to reach for the biggest titles. But she didn't really have the "tiger" under control and often hissed loudly after losing points.
"I felt like I had to slow down a bit to achieve my goals," said Sabalenka after her triumph in Adelaide. In all of her ten games of the year she remained without losing a set. "The tiger is now a calm tiger," she said, "but if he has to go out, he's there."
Here is the women's individual tableau
laver arena