“I’m super happy and proud,” says Elena Rybakina – and you can see that in her eyes.
Image: EPA
The 23-year-old Kazakh Yelena Rybakina prevailed in the semi-finals of the Australian Open against the two-time tournament winner Viktoria Azarenka from Belarus. Another Belarusian is waiting in the final.
Dhe tennis players Jelena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne. First, Kazakh Wimbledon winner Rybakina defeated Viktoria Azarenka from Belarus 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in her semi-final match on Thursday. A little later, the Belarusian Sabalenka made her first Grand Slam final on Saturday perfect thanks to the 7: 6 (7: 1), 6: 2 against the Polish outsider Magda Linette.
“I’m super happy and proud,” said 23-year-old Rybakina. For the native of Moscow, who has been playing for Kazakhstan since 2018, it is the second final in a major tournament after winning Wimbledon last year.
Sabalenka, who was still undefeated this year, reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time after three semi-final defeats and was also “super happy”.
The 33-year-old Asarenka, who triumphed at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, kept up well with Rybakina, who was ten years younger, in the first set. But she made too many mistakes in the second round. Among others, football coach Thomas Tuchel and US entrepreneur Bill Gates sat in the stands of the Rod Laver Arena.
