By Can Erozden
ANKARA (AA) – Aryna Sabalenka came back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in a thrilling Australian Open final on Saturday, lifting her first Grand Slam singles title.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina won the first set 6-4 and looked on course to add to her Wimbledon title.
The 24-year-old Sabalenka fought back in the second set, firing 21 winners to take it 6-3 and force the game into a decider.
A gripping finale unfolded at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka went up 5-3 after breaking Rybakina’s serve in the seventh game.
Rybakina took the next game but the fifth seed Sabalenka held her nerve to clinch the set 6-4.
Sabalenka was competing under a neutral flag because of Belarus’ support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Australian Open will end on Sunday with the men’s singles final between Stefanos Tsitsipas and nine-time winner Novak Djokovic.