Key events
Conditions news from the i’s tennis man.
They are opening the roof on Rod Laver for Rybakina vs Sabalenka, which is a huge relief because it was humid as hell with it shut.
Hopefully will make for a better match, too.#AusOpen https://t.co/jRET7lI3ed
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 28, 2023
Some earlier results from Melbourne Park.
“It’s incredible to win, but even more so if you have something to fight for and something to be proud of.”@SamWCTennis 🇳🇱 retained his #AusOpen Quad Singles title on Saturday, overcoming countryman Niels Vink in two tight sets.#AO23
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2023
Tumaini Carayol is on the scene in Melbourne ahead of a much awaited blastfest.
There are times when players in top form meet too early in a grand slam and other events can look lopsided by the end, but as Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina face off in their first Melbourne final there is no doubt these are the two best players of the tournament.
Preamble
This seems a perfectly poised final, with Sabalenka chasing her first Slam, and Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion, facing off at Melbourne Park. It’s Belarus v Kazakhstan and between two players seeking to break into the gap at the top of the women’s game. Rybakina is mentally tough, while Sabelenka has the power. Both six-footers, they have the game to win this tournament and it seems a close one to call. Sabalenka has won all of their three meetings together, at Wimbledon in 2021, Abu Dhabi in 2021 and Wuhan in 2019. All three matches went to three sets, and that seems a likely outcome here. The stakes are the highest they could be, and who will have the mental strength to prevail?