128 ladies had entered the principle draw a fortnight again on the Melbourne Park. It’s all the way down to the overall two. World No.5 Aryna Sabalenka, some of the favorites in the beginning of the match, might be vying for her maiden Grand Slam identify, towards reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who has scripted a wonder run to the overall.
Sabalenka’s shocking run in the beginning of the season with a identify in Adelaide and a reworked way made her the favourite within the decrease part of the draw. Continuing her shape, she beat No.12 seed Belinda Bencic within the fourth spherical, Donna Vekic within the quarters and wonder semifinalist Magda Linette to make the overall. Rybakina, alternatively, left maximum, if now not all, stunned together with her inspiring run on the Melbourne Park. Despite being a Grand Slam winner, Rybakina had began out her marketing campaign at the facet courts earlier than edging 3 Grand Slam winners, together with the recent favourite and international no.1 Iga Swiatek, to make the overall.
Ahead of the blockbuster Australian Open ultimate between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina on the Melbourne Park, we check out the head-to-head file, key stats and data in line for the fit…
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
The two of have in the past met every different thrice at the WTA excursion, all of that have been of 3 units. Sabalenka received on all events. Their final assembly was once within the spherical of 16 of 2021 Wimbledon, the yr earlier than Rybakina had lifted the trophy on the SW19. The different two had been hard-court conferences, each within the quarterfinal spherical – in Abu Dhabi in 2021 and in Wuhan in 2019.
RANKING SCENARIO:
Rybakina had entered the match a fortnight again as international no.25. With her improbable run to the overall, she is assured to make a maiden look within the top-10. And with a 2d Grand Slam identify to her title, she will be able to transfer to as top as No.8 on Monday.
Sabalenka, recently ranked 5th on the earth, is assured to go away the match as the brand new international no.2 on Monday without reference to the outcome within the ultimate.
NUMBERS FROM AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023:
Aryna Sabalenka | Elena Rybakina | |
29 | aces | 44 |
75.3 | 1st serve wins % | 79.5 |
64.2 | 2d serve win % | 53.1 |
25/30 | Break Points stored | 15/24 |
39.9 | Return issues received % | 42.4 |
24/49 | Break issues received | 26/49 |
196/136 | Winners/Unforced mistakes | 158/149 |
RECORDS AT STAKE:
The stat that has completely outlined Rybakina’s super display in Melbourne Park has been her win over 3 former Grand Slam winners (Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka) en path to the overall. On Saturday, she’s going to goal to develop into the primary evet feminine participant to finish this run with the identify since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 (Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles).
With her victory, the WTA may have two gamers as reigning Grand Slam winners of 2 Slams, a primary of its sort since 2004 when Justine Henin-Hardenne had lifted the Australian Open identify. The German was once then the reigning champion in Melbourne an Roland Garros whilst Serena Williams held the Wimbledon and US Open crown.
At 23, Rybakina may be bidding to develop into the youngest ever ladies’s participant to be the Wimbledon and Australian Open winner since Maria Sharapova in 2008.
Sabalenka, alternatively, will upload to her marvelous successful streak since 2023 – 10-0 with a win in Adelaide and grabbed 20 immediately units. With that run, she turned into the 3rd feminine participant this century to win her first 10 seasonal fits with out shedding a unmarried set after Anna Smashnova in 2002 and Agnieszka Radwanska in 2013.