Rybakina joins tennis elite

Elena Rybakina’s victory on the blue-green courts of Melbourne Park, a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over World Number One Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first Australian Open title, was, for all intents, a measure of growth, patience, precision, and fortitude transformed into poise under pressure. Four years after the heartbreak of the 2023 final, when she won the first set only to see her foil rally and join an exclusive roster of major winners, the development was redemption writ large.

Significantly, Rybakina’s nerve held when it mattered most: down 0-3 in the third set, she won five of the next six games and closed out the championship with an ace. If nothing else, the turnaround reflects her evolution from a power player exhibiting flashes of skill to a contender capable of wading through the ebbs and flows of tennis at the highest level and, ultimately, living up to outsized expectations. Historically, she encounters success when she strikes early and brandishes her booming serves with accuracy. This time around, her calm under duress enabled her to finish strong.

For Sabalenka, the loss will sting for a while. She headed into the final seeking what would have been her fifth Grand Slam and a third straight Australian Open crown, a testament to her hard-court dominance off fierce baseline artillery. Against Rybakina the other night, however, her usual aggression seemed to give way to tentativeness. Instead of dictating, she often found herself reacting, hunting balls instead of painting corners. To argue that it was an uncharacteristic turn for her would be to understate the obvious.

In any case, Rybakina has proven herself comfortable in the crucible of a three-set thriller. With the hardware on the line, Rod Laver Arena belonged to her. And, if nothing else, the result was a reminder that the sport at its finest goes far beyond brute athleticism. It is a conversation between minds leading to a sequence of exchanges that rewards the protagonist who can best navigate chaos with conviction. In claiming her second major, she has recast her standing as a bona fide member of the established elite, equally serene and unyielding in her quest for greatness.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.