We’ll have a first-time Australian Open champion on Saturday in Melbourne — either Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina. Who will win the prestigious trophy?
Rybakina has done it before
The fact that speaks in Rybakina’s favor is that she has experience in Grand Slam finals, having won Wimbledon 2022. On the other hand, Sabalenka has managed to win a major semifinal for the first time in four tries.
Sabalenka boasts a perfect win-loss record in 2023 and against Rybakina
Stats that work in Sabalenka’s favor are her perfect win-loss record in 2023 and perfect head-to-head record against Rybakina. The world No.5 has won all her ten matches this season in straight sets. The Belarusian also boasts a 3-0 win-loss record against Rybakina, although all these encounters were decided in three sets and they all happened before the Kazakh’s Wimbledon breakthrough.
Rybakina defeated more high-profile opponents en route to the Australian Open final
The average rank of Rybakina’s opponents in the previous six matches was 34, compared to 46 in Sabalenka’s case. But that number is not so important. What’s notable is that Rybakina defeated three Grand Slam champions in a row in her previous three rounds, including the world No.1 Iga Swiatek and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria…
