Sabalenka joins league of Australian Open queens

Aryna Sabalenka new queen of Melbourne

Aryna Sabalenka new queen of Melbourne

Aryna Sabalenka fought her way to a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in Melbour with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Kazakh 22nd seed Elena Rybakina on Saturday.

It was a thrilling final between two of the most exciting power-hitters in the women’s game, with Rybakina snatching the first set.

An 11th straight win of the year also means Sabalenka will return to a career-high ranking of number two behind Iga Swiatek.

The Belarusian reaped the rewards of her improved mental stability and service to emerge as a genuine threat in big tournaments.

With Russian and Belarusian players only allowed to compete as individual athletes without national affiliation at Melbourne Park due Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Sabalenka also became the first neutral athlete to win a major.

She dropped to the floor in delight after securing the win and walked up to Rybakina’s side of the court to give her a hug before climbing up to embrace her emotional entourage in the players’ box.

“Thank you so much for an amazing atmosphere,” said Sabalenka, who received the trophy from former world number one Billie Jean King. “And of course my team, the craziest team on tour, I would say. We’ve been through a lot of downs last year, we worked so hard.”

“I hope next year I come back and I show you even better tennis, and you guys support me even more,” she added.

List of Australian Open women’s singles champions since 1980:

2023 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) bt Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) 4-6 6-3 6-4

2022 Ash Barty bt Danielle Collins (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(2)

2021 Naomi Osaka (Japan) bt Jennifer Brady (U.S.) 6-4 6-3

2020 Sofia Kenin (U.S.) bt Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 4-6 6-2 6-2

2019 Osaka bt Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4

2018 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4

2017 Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

2016 Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt S. Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4

2015 S. Williams bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 7-6(5)

2014 Li Na (China) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 7-6(3) 6-0

2013 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Li 4-6 6-4 6-3

2012 Azarenka bt Sharapova 6-3 6-0

2011 Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Li 3-6 6-3 6-3

2010 S. Williams bt Justine Henin (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 6-2

2009 S. Williams bt Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-0 6-3

2008 Sharapova bt Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 7-5 6-3

2007 S. Williams bt Sharapova 6-1 6-2

2006 Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt Henin 6-1 2-0 (retired)

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2005 S. Williams bt Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 2-6 6-3 6-0

2004 Henin bt Clijsters 6-3 4-6 6-3

2003 S. Williams bt V. Williams 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4

2002 Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) bt Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2

2001 Capriati bt Hingis 6-4 6-3

2000 Davenport bt Hingis 6-1 7-5

1999 Hingis bt Mauresmo 6-2 6-3

1998 Hingis bt Conchita Martinez (Spain) 6-3 6-3

1997 Hingis bt Mary Pierce (France) 6-2 6-2

1996 Monica Seles (U.S.) bt Anke Huber (Germany) 6-4 6-1

1995 Pierce bt Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 6-3 6-2

1994 Steffi Graf (Germany) bt Sanchez Vicario 6-0 6-2

1993 Seles (Yugoslavia) bt Graf 4-6 6-3 6-2

1992 Seles bt Mary Joe Fernandez (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

1991 Seles bt Jana Novotna (Czechoslovakia) 5-7 6-3 6-1

1990 Graf bt Fernandez 6-3 6-4

1989 Graf bt Helena Sukova (Czechoslovakia) 6-4 6-4

1988 Graf bt Chris Evert (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

1987 Hana Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia) bt Martina Navratilova (U.S.) 7-5 7-6(1)

1986 no competition

1985 Navratilova bt Evert 6-2 4-6 6-2

1984 Evert bt Sukova 6-7(4) 6-1 6-3

1983 Navratilova bt Kathy Jordan (U.S.) 6-2 7-6(5)

1982 Evert bt Navratilova 6-3 2-6 6-3

1981 Navratilova bt Evert 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5

1980 Mandlikova bt Wendy Turnbull 6-0 7-5

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