The ladies final has arrived and the 2 competitors were the 22nd seed, Rybakina who won Wimbledon last year so had had experience in a grand slam final and the 5th seed, Sabalenka who had never made it to a grand slam final but had yet to drop a set on her way to this grand slam final. A mouthwatering encounter indeed.

Sabalenka served first in the final which was a tough ask as I am sure she would’ve been nervous as she had never been this far in a grand slam before. After serving a double fault on the very first point of the match however, it was an impressive opening statement as she won the next 4 points comfortably to lead 1-0. Rybakina followed that service game with an impressive won herself. Both players were serving very well, 1-1. Sabalenka served impressively again to lead 40-0 in her service game but after a return winner at 40-0, the game just went away from her and she lost 5 points on the trot and she was a break down 2-1. Another comfortable hold for the Kazak and she led 3-1. This time Sabalenka did not squander a 40-0 lead and it was 3-2. Sabalenka had to keep it tight. A love service hold once again for Rybakina made it 4-2. At this point Rybakina had served 3 games and lost just 2 points. Sabalenka found herself 15-30 before rescueing the next game and it was 4-3. Then out of nowhere 3 break points to Sabalenka in the 8th game of the set. Sabalenka took the 2nd one and we were back on serve at 4-4. An important service game for Sabalenka as we were nearing the end of the set. Unfortunately she couldn’t hold serve and the break was Rybakina’s and she would now have a chance to serve out the set. An impressive love hold and the set was hers. Rybakina led by 1 set to love. Sabalenka needed to start well in the 2nd set. She could not afford to give Rybakina the lead as Rybakina being a set up would then be able to play freely and be danagerous. Sabalenka did not start great as she found herself 15-40 down before crucially rescuing the game by winning the next 4 points. Rybakina also had a tight first game and she too held serve to make it 1-1. The 3rd game made it 3 games in a row to go to deuce and it was the 3rd game in a row that the server came out unscathed. Sabalenka led 2-1. Rybakina then had break points against her in the 4th game of the set. The 22nd seed managed to save the 1st one but not the second one and crucially it was Sabalenka who broke first in the 2nd set. The next game after breaking is crucial and the 5th game of the 2nd set was indeed crucial as it was the longest game up until this point in the match. Sabalenka only had to save 1 break point but only closed out her service game on the 3rd time of asking. A crucial hold for the 5th seed who was starting to find her game that got her to this point in the competition. She led 4-1. The set continued to be tight and for the 6th consecutive game, the game went to deuce. Rybakina saved 2 break points from 15-40 down to make it deuce and then had to save another 1 later in the game before taking her 3rd game point. Rybakina kept it to just 1 break and it was 4-2. Finally an easy service hold for Sabalenka and she was now a game away from the 2nd set. The 5th seed nearly broke to win the set but once again Rybakina managed to come back from 15-40 and win her service game and force Sabalenka to serve out the set. The game was a tight one when Sabalenka found herself 5-3; 30-30 but 2 aces later she had the 2nd set and we were going the distance in what had been a fantastic display of ladies tennis.

Rybakina had the advantage of serving first in this 1 set shootout. Both players held well and it was 1-1. 2 more comfortable service holds and it was 2-2. The 5th game was the first wobble for a player as Rybakina had to save another break point in this match. She did and took the game to lead 3-2. Sabalenka made it 3-3 and had just lost 3 points on serve in this 3rd set. She was looking strong. Every game from 3-3 was a big one but the 7th game turned out to be the biggest one of the match. Rybakina saved another 2 break points and then conjured up a game point of her own. Sabalenka kept herself in the game with a backhand winner and managed to conjure up a 3rd break point. Finally this was the one she took and Sabalenka had struck first. She led 4-3 final set. Rybakina had to break back immediately. She did manage to take the game to deuce but never had a break point opportunity and Sabalenka was now just a game away from her maiden grand slam in her maiden grand slam final. Rybakina knew she had to put the pressure on the 5th seed and make her serve for the title and this is what she did with her most comfortable hold of serve in the 3rd set. The 10th game was always going to be tense. Sabalenka went up 40-30 with an ace but kept Rybakina in it as she served a double fault on championship point. She conjured up another 1 before losing it with an unforced error. She then had to save a break point before creating a 3rd championship point. She still couldn’t take it as she made another unforced error. A winner on the forehand side and a Rybakina unforced error and we had a new grand slam champion in Melbourne. Aryna Sabalenka was the champion. Well played to Ryabakina as she played a great tournament and backed her Wimbledon title up to show that she is one of the best in world at the moment in the ladies game.

Onto the fantasy leaderboard and with that win from Sabalenka, ‘Sinner’s Injuries’ are clear up front by 14 points. ‘Lynda’s Team’ remains in 2nd and has a healthy margin to 3rd place of 14 points. 3rd place is a 3 way tie at the moment with ‘Down Under’, ‘Groundstroke’ and ‘New Balls Please’ all on 190 points after the ladies final. ‘Drop Shots’ and ‘mAgic melbOurne’ are just 1 point off a prize so still everything to play for in the mens final.

Well done to ‘Sinner’s Injuries’, ‘New Balls Please’, ‘mAgic melbOurne’, ‘Eish’, ‘Klippies’, ‘Give me a break!’, ‘Faulty Feet’, ‘Pot Luck’, ‘Forever Federer’, ‘Koala Bear’ and ‘Oi, Oi, Oi!’ who all picked Sabalenka in their teams. No teams had both Rybakina and Sabalenka which was interesting. The teams in yellow picked the ladies winner, Sabalenka.

Ladies Final Result

• Sabalenka(5) beat Rybakina(22) – 4-6; 6-3; 6-4

Men’s Final Today

• Tsitsipas(3) vs Djokovic(4) (10:30)

Jared

Jared matriculated in 2020 from Wynberg Boys High School in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for tennis afforded him the opportunity of travelling to Europe. He is a quizmaster and a tennis fantasy league organiser.http://Eishonline.co.za/jftl