In a match that was all about power and strength, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus triumphed to win the 2023 Australian Open and take home her first Grand Slam trophy. She rallied to beat Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in an epic 2-hour, 28-minute battle.
Sabalenka double-faulted to start the match, an ominous sign, and was broken twice in a first set in which she double-faulted five times in losing 4-6 — the first set she lost in 2023.
But then Sabalenka got it going.
After saving two break points to open the second set, Sabalenka earned two break points, converting the second for a 3-1 lead.