In the first set, Victoria Azarenka (No. 24) managed the first break to lead 3:2, but then she had to give up three games in a row.
When Elena Rybakina (No. 22) served to win the set, the Belarusian upped the ante and fought her way back to 5:5 and then even had a breakball to make it 6:5.
However, the Kazakhs remained strong, forced the tie break and, after an intermediate sprint from 2:2 to 5:2, won 7:4.
Australian Open
Old master Azarenka fights her way back into the match
2 HOURS AGO
In the second set, Azarenka struggled more and more with herself, her wobbly serve and imprecise shots. Your opponent gets breaks to 2:1 and 5:2. The 33-year-old old champion fought her way back, but was unable to turn the match around.
Tennis
Elena Rybakina – Victoria Azarenka
02:41:04
Rybakina already eliminated Swiatek from the tournament
After 1:41 hours of play, Rybakina converted her second of three match points.
The match point: Rybakina makes the final clear against Azarenka
In the final, Rybakina meets the winner of the subsequent game between Aryna Sabalenka (No. 3) and Magda Linette (Poland).
“I’m super happy and proud,” Rybakina said. “Today the conditions were a bit difficult for me, but I managed it well. I’ll do my best in the final, fight and hopefully win.”
Rybakina, who eliminated world number one Iga Swiatek from Poland on her way to the semifinals, is Russian by birth and has been serving for Kazakhstan since 2018.
“It doesn’t get any better than that!” Rybakina makes Azarenka look old
Rybakina advances to the top of the world
In the world rankings, she will move up from 25th place to at least 11th place after reaching the final, and up to 8th place if she triumphs.
The Kazakh had not received any world ranking points for her Wimbledon victory because points were not awarded at the prestigious tournament in London due to the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players.
For reaching the final, Rybakina receives the equivalent of 1,035,905 euros in prize money, for victory there would be 1,896,503 euros, analogous to the men’s.
Rybakina after reaching the final: “Super happy and proud”
Azarenka is still waiting for his third Grand Slam title
“She is the deserved winner,” said Eurosport-Expert Barbara Rittner: “After not being able to confirm the 5:3 lead in the first set, she recovered well and was the better and more powerful player overall. Azarenka seemed a bit tired towards the end.”
Her coup at Wimbledon was the country’s first Grand Slam title. Azarenka won the trophy Down Under in 2012 and 2013 and has been waiting for another major triumph ever since. In 2020 she was in a final at the US Open for the last time in the four major tournaments.
Azarenka can console himself with the equivalent of 589,669 euros in prize money. In addition, she moves up to at least 17th place in the world rankings.
Old master Azarenka fights her way back into the match
(with SID)
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