Rybakina

Elena Rybakina and 24th seed Victoria Azarenka will face off in a do-or-die semi final on Thursday for a spot in the Australian Open final at Rod Laver ...

- Game Rybakina: Finally a first serve and an ace. Vika is the ageing Queen. - 40-40: All three saved as Vika jumps on the second serve but nets. The Wimbledon champ looks primed to reach her first AO final. She has a break point. - 0-30: First serves have dried up for Rybakina. Could be a big moment. Huge chance for the veteran here. She was nearly off the court though. One break back. 7(7) [22] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)

Thursday is women's semi-final day at Melbourne Park: Elena Rybakina v Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette v Aryna Sabalenka. Join Luke McLaughlin.

Rybakina can serve for the match and a place in the final. A deserved victory for Rybakina, who may hold both the Wimbledon and Australian Open titles in a couple of days, if she can find her best level in the final. It is obvious how much work she puts in in practice, such is the fluency and smoothness of her technique. and the Polish player breaks to love in the first game! Again, Sabalenka hits wide, looking for a spectacular winner, to hand the game to her opponent. Linette meets is perfectly and scorches it back down the line, with interest, a clean winner and one of the shots of the match. The next rally is the best and longest of the match, Linette looking to win it with an excellent angled forehand … Linette’s advantage – she goes for a winner down the line – the ball clips the net, and diverts to bounce just inside the line! At 6-0, the players take a drink, and it’s Linette with plenty of thinking to do. Sabalenka seals the break and moves in front in the second. Linette does well to get it back, and both players take it on from the baseline. Linette to serve to stay in the match.

Australian Open 2023 Women's Singles Semifinals: Elena Rybakina plays Victoria Azarenka, and Aryna Sabalenka takes on Magda Linett.

Follow live updates and scores from the Australian Open as Elena Rybakina faces Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka takes on Magda Linette in the women's ...

Magda Linette isn’t going away and Sabalenka needs to hold her nerve. She wants to win this game badly. There’s a whole heap of pressure on Aryna Sabalenka. [Elena Rybakina grinds down Victoria Azarenka to set up Aryna Sabalenka final](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/australian-open-final-rybakina-sabalenka-azarenka-b2269711.html) It was great tennis from me on the tie-break. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! She will face the fifth seed Yet it only lasted for a moment, as Rybakina regathered her composure, picked up her weapons, and ground down Azarenka’s resurgent game. [Australian Open ](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/australian-open-2023)brought with it an unusual sight. [Aryna Sabalenka](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/aryna-sabalenka), who is through to her first grand slam final after defeating Magda Linette 7-6 6-2. [Novak Djokovic](/topic/novak-djokovic) in Australia after his father, Srdjan Djokovic, was filmed posing for pictures with a group of Vladimir Putin supporters on Wednesday. [Victoria Azarenka](/topic/victoria-azarenka) to reach her second grand slam final.

Rybakina* 7-6 (4), 2-1 Azarenka (*denotes next server). Rybakina backhand return winner to open the game, 0-15. Forehand by Azarenka goes long ...

But Rybakina crushes a backhand winner into the corner, 30-30. Deep backhand return by Rybakina and Azarenka nets, 30-30. Rybakina has all the power here, but Azarenka is holding her own with the wiliness accumulated over more than a decade on the tour. Good start to the game from Azarenka as she hits a backhand winner down the line. Azarenka saves them both after finding her first serve and finishing the points with forehand winners of her own. Another framed backhand by Rybakina into the tramlines and Azarenka holds. Set point Rybakina after Azarenka nets a forehand. Rybakina pushes Azarenka wide with a forehand the Belarusian's reply is long, 3-2. Azarenka forehand into the tramlines, 7-4. Rybakina backhand into the net, 2-1. Azarenka backhand into the net. Rybakina saves the first when Azarenka's backhand goes wide.

Get the latest Tennis updates on Eurosport. Catch Elena Rybakina - Victoria Azarenka live on 25/01/2023. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

But Azarenka isn't giving up on this and earns another break point with a backhand winner. Rybakina's groundstroke drifts long and the break is secured! She scampers across court to meet Rybakina's volley and steers a winner past her down the line. Azarenka eventually holds, but she now needs to pressure Elena's serve. RYBAKINA 6-6 (2-1) AZARENKA Azarenka nets, and it's set point. RYBAKINA 6-6 (7-4) AZARENKA RYBAKINA 6-6 (4-2) AZARENKA RYBAKINA 6-6 (5-4) AZARENKA So, Azarenka's run comes to an end. *RYBAKINA 6-6 (7-4) 2-1 AZARENKA RYBAKINA 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 AZARENKA

Elena Rybakina and 24th seed Victoria Azarenka will face off in a do-or-die semi final on Thursday for a spot in the Australian Open final at Rod Laver ...

Thursday, January 25 Channel 9 UK: Coverage of the Australian Open 2023 will be broadcast in the UK live and exclusively on Eurosport. TV channel How to watch Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka in the semi final of the Australian Open 3:30am ET

Got to say my gut feel is that this contest is going to three sets. Victoria ...

yesterday Thank you, I mean, I’ve got good genetics, I guess. But I don’t know. I actually think that I hit really slow balls today. I would say that I didn’t start really well, and then in the tiebreak. Super happy that I was able to get this win. Should the two finalists play at their peak, it promises to be an enthralling contest given the prodigious power both women possess. I’m super happy. She played really great tennis and yeah, I’m just super happy right now, and guys, thank you so much for staying late tonight and supporting us.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand...

Sabalenka took a 9-0 mark in 2023 into Thursday’s second semifinal, while Linette made it to that stage of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 30 appearances. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. The performance was particularly noteworthy against a returner and defender as established on hard courts as Azarenka, a former No.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is into her second major final after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semifinals.

A sixth double fault from Azarenka gave Rybakina triple-break point and the Wimbledon champion converted after Azarenka's final shot landed in the net. A clean return winner at 5-2, 30-40 gave the 33-year-old one break back, but Rybakina closed out the match on her return. But Rybakina broke straight back and settled herself on serve to take a 4-3 lead. Having lost just one set in the tournament, Rybakina proved a formidable frontrunner. Playing in her first Australian Open semifinal, Rybakina faced a major champion for the third straight match. MELBOURNE, Australia -- Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced to her second major final, defeating former No.1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals.

Welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the Australian Open 2023 women's singles semifinals on day 11 in Melbourne.

Wide serve into the ad court from Azarenka, Rybakina hits a crosscourt backhand return and the backhand shot in reply from the Belarusian lands into the net - 30-all. Body serve from the Kazakh, Azarenka hits the backhand return into the net. Body serve from Rybakina and Azarenka hits the forehand down the line wide. Brilliant forehand down the line pass from Azarenka after Rybakina seemed to have finished the point with her forehand volley - deuce. And she converts as Azarenka hits a forehand into the net. The first serve still not landing but Rybakina manages to save two break points, first with a backhand error from Azarenka and second after a forehand winner from herself. Rybakina 5-5 Azarenka* - Azarenka serving to stay in the set. Rybakina saves first with a big serve and a forehand winner from the net into the open court. Rybakina 6-6 Azarenka* - Azarenka again serving to stay in the set. And she gets the second one as well as Rybakina hits a crosscourt forehand wide - Rybakina leads 5-4. Big first serve and a forehand down the line winner - she saved one. Misjudgement from Azarenka as forehand return from Rybakina lands just on the baseline.

Elena Rybakina managed the decisive moments and defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final for the first time.

The consequence of that shift is evident in a run to the final that has been even more impressive than her first. Against Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion, in slower, cold night conditions, she could not summon the level of her previous rounds. She received no respect with court assignments and her low seeding, still outside the top 20 due to the lack of points on offer at Wimbledon, meant she received far more difficult draws than a reigning grand slam champion would otherwise get. She broke serve quickly in the second set after a flurry of Azarenka mistakes and her own serve returned in full. As Rybakina’s greater weight of shot, with the power she generates so easily, met Azarenka’s incessant depth and industriousness, Rybakina moved ahead. Even as both players looked to take the initiative and dominate the baseline, this match was always going to be told in its contrasts.

Elena Rybakina stormed to her first Australian Open final with a 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, wearing the twice champion down in a ...

as she put the match back on serve. "I'm super happy and proud. The errors piled up as Azarenka dropped serve again and she all but surrendered with a wild forehand to fall 5-2 behind. After that start, it was a surprise when Azarenka picked her off at the net to break her in the fifth game. The 22nd-seeded Rybakina was broken as she served for the set but Azarenka double-faulted to concede three match points in the next game, allowing the Kazakh to close out an emphatic win. In a match of wild momentum swings, Rybakina held her nerve as the 24th-seeded Belarusian Azarenka foundered in a messy first set tiebreak then dropped serve twice to fall 5-2 behind in the second set.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand...

Sabalenka took a 9-0 mark in 2023 into Thursday’s second semifinal, while Linette made it to that stage of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 30 appearances. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. The performance was particularly noteworthy against a returner and defender as established on hard courts as Azarenka, a former No.

Elena Rybakina powered her way past two-time champion Victoria Azarenka to reach the Australian Open final, winning 7-6 6-3 in just over an hour and 40 ...

I couldn’t play aggressive tennis, the ball wasn’t going as much, but I tried my best to win.” I’m super happy to be in the final and play one more time here. Rybakina has beaten former grand slam champions in consecutive matches to reach this stage – world No. The world No. Rybakina found her first serve again in the second set and broke Azarenka twice to take a commanding 5-2 lead and give herself a chance to serve for the match. However, that would be as good as it would get for Linette in the second as Sabalenka maintained the level she found in the tie break to win four straight games and race into a 4-1 lead. When everything clicks, the Russian-born Kazakh’s game is almost unstoppable and a marvel to watch. I’ll fight and, hopefully, I’m going to win.” “I’m super happy and proud, with my team also because without them it would be difficult to be here,” Rybakina said in her post-match interview. However, the 2022 Wimbledon winner perhaps started to feel the magnitude of the occasion for the first time, as her first serve all of a sudden deserted her to allow Azarenka to break back at the first time of asking and quickly level the scores at 5-5. We’ll see how it’s going to go – for sure, I’ll try my best. The momentum swung back and forth in the opening set and the more experienced Azarenka looked as though she had the upper hand going into the tie break, but Rybakina found her serve when she needed it most to take a crucial lead.

Elena Rybakina is into her first Australian Open final after beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4) 6-2.

It’s good that I know [how to handle big matches], especially for the final, where I’m going to be prepared in all aspects. Rybakina then moved 5-2 ahead in the tie-breaker and took the set when Azarenka went wide with a forehand. I couldn’t really adapt and manipulate the ball as much. It was tough, especially against Vika. Azarenka battled back to level things up at 5-5, but then failed to break from 0-40 and Rybakina took the set in a tie-breaker. Azarenka, going for her third title in Melbourne, secured the first break of the match in the fifth game, but Wimbledon champion Rybakina responded instantly, winning three games in a row to serve for the set.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. It was breezy and chilly at Rod Laver Arena from the start of Rybakina vs. Rybakina encountered similar issues and her occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are rather misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. It wasn’t the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. “Kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers. “For sure, they’re very experienced players,” said Rybakina, whose parents and sister have been in town throughout the Australian Open. “In the tiebreaker, I really found my rhythm,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka is far less cautious, though, and her penchant for high-risk, high-reward play was evident against Linette, who had never before been past the third round in 29 appearances at majors.

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will clash in Saturday's Australian Open women's final after both won in straight sets in the last four in Melbourne.

"For sure it's great for them. Just couldn't convert them." It was great tennis from me in the tiebreak." holding for a 3-1 advantage. Sabalenka showed no sign of letting up in the second set, breaking Linette and with a scream of "Come on!" Sabalenka was being made to work hard and showed all her new-found patience to get back on terms with a break of her own, to love, for 2-2 and the set went to a tiebreak.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will seek her second grand slam title in the Australian Open final after a stirring victory over dual-champion Victoria ...

“To be honest, I want to come on the court and enjoy the experience, enjoy the atmosphere. Struck with venom, they had her elder rival on the defensive from the baseline. But she soon found her rhythm with three straight aces to close out the opening game. But Rybakina is playing at a level closer to the world’s best. [Courtney Walsh](/by/courtney-walsh-p5361n)is an experienced sports writer who won the ATP Tour's Ron Bookman Award in 2019, and an AFL media award in 2021.Connect via Should the two finalists play at their peak, it promises to be an enthralling contest given the prodigious power both women possess. “I would say that … She has had the experience of playing in a final,” Sabalenka said. With her confidence rising, Sabalenka broke Linette’s serve in the third game of the second set to establish a firm grip on the match. Sabalenka’s confidence and conviction on the court is a credit to her given the woes she experienced in Melbourne last year when effectively gripped with the yips on her serve. “[Elena] is an amazing player. Told in a post-match interview that the average speed of her forehand was comparable to the world’s best male players, she made a show of her strength by kissing her biceps.

Aryna Sabalenka surged into the Australian Open final with a 7-6(1) 6-2 win over unseeded Pole Magda Linette on Thursday to extend the red-hot Belarusian's ...

The fifth seed heaped the pressure on Linette's serve in the first-set tiebreak with her power and precision to pull away and wrapped it up when her opponent sent one long, before taking full control in the next set with an early break. Adelaide champion Sabalenka has not dropped a set en route to 10 wins in 2023 but made a poor start in chilly conditions on Rod Laver Arena, dropping her serve to love in the opening game before breaking back with two blistering backhands. MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka surged into the Australian Open final with a 7-6(1) 6-2 win over unseeded Pole Magda Linette on Thursday to extend the red-hot Belarusian's unbeaten start to the year and book a clash with Elena Rybakina.

MELBOURNE — Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. Rybakina encountered similar issues and her occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are rather misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. “Kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. She delivered serves at up to 117 mph and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will on Thursday. It wasn’t the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers. “For sure, they’re very experienced players,” said Rybakina, whose parents and sister have been in town throughout the Australian Open. “In the tiebreaker, I really found my rhythm,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka is far less cautious, though, and her penchant for high-risk, high-reward play was evident against Linette, who had never before been past the third round in 29 appearances at majors.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is into her second major final after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semifinals.

A sixth double fault from Azarenka gave Rybakina triple-break point and the Wimbledon champion converted after Azarenka's final shot landed in the net. In the end, I just was playing point by point no matter score. A clean return winner at 5-2, 30-40 gave the 33-year-old one break back, but Rybakina closed out the match on her return. Rybakina kept the sustained pressure on Azarenka's serve, breaking on five of 11 break points. "Not a great feeling right now to digest. Having lost just one set in the tournament, Rybakina proved a formidable frontrunner. But Rybakina broke straight back and settled herself on serve to take a 4-3 lead. As Azarenka's serve began to falter, Rybakina grabbed a second break to lead 5-2. Playing in her first Australian Open semifinal, Rybakina faced a major champion for the third straight match. This time it was Rybakina's turn to withstand the pressure on her serve. MELBOURNE, Australia -- Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced to her second major final, defeating former No.1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals. Azarenka finished with 17 winners and 13 unforced errors.

The women's 2023 Australian Open final is set: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will take on Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan after the two each won their semifinal ...

Aryna Sabalenka ends Magda Linette's shock run at the Australian Open and sets up a women's singles final with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

It’s a very exclusive club. I know that Vika will do everything she can to make it happen. Would love to see her join the club of women who have become champions after having a baby. it was great tennis from me on the tie break." By Paul Johnson I will do everything I can to make it happen."

The tennis stars will play for the 2023 Australian Open crown after storming to a pair of straight-set semi-final triumphs in Melbourne on Thursday.

* Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and rampant world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka will play for the 2023 Australian Open crown after storming to a pair of straight-set semi-final triumphs in Melbourne.

Aryna Sabalenka is due for her major breakthrough. Elena Rybakina has been unflappable. Who has the edge in Saturday's Australian Open final?

The reigning Wimbledon champion has every reason to be full of confidence heading into her second major final in the past seven months. But this time I think I was focusing more on the match, what I have to do, and maybe not to think what's going to come or what's going to happen around." Facing a resurgent Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals, Rybakina was broken three times but 36% of her first serves went unreturned. Before that event, she had been past the Round of 16 at a Slam once. Against World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, Rybakina was broken twice, but 32% of her first serves went unreturned. But the 180-degree turnaround on her serve and the work she put in with her coaches, sports psychologist and biomechanical specialist isn't the only reason Sabalenka finally snapped her 0-3 record in Slam semifinals. Rybakina's run to her first major title last summer at Wimbledon was entirely uncharted territory. "I was just trying to hold myself, stay calm, just think about the next point. As Sabalenka said in Adelaide, the competitive tiger still lives inside her, but she's learned to control it. Of the 20 sets she's won, beginning with her title run in Adelaide, she dropped more than four games only six times. Their last match on a hard court came at 2021 Abu Dhabi, where Sabalenka won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 en route to the title. Rybakina's power comes from her clean and flat ball-striking, one that is based on timing.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat Victoria Azarenka in straight sets to reach the Australian Open final on Thursday and end the Belarusian's dream of a ...

MELBOURNE, Australia — It will be strength against strength and power against power in the Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday.

She has beaten three straight Grand Slam singles champions to reach this final: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Azarenka, a 33-year-old Belarusian who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Sabalenka is seeded fifth and Rybakina 22nd, but that does not tell the whole tale. And yet her inconsistency and combustibility have, until now, kept her from reaching the top. But after losing her first three Grand Slam singles semifinals, she is now into her first final. “It was great tennis from me in the tiebreak.” The outcomes were strong. Both have lifted their games to new levels since then. The year’s first Grand Slam event runs from Jan. Rybakina, 23, is a quiet intimidator: her big serves and rolling, deep groundstrokes applying constant pressure. Rybakina is self-contained and difficult to read, maintaining an even keel throughout her matches. In this Australian Open, 16 to Jan.

ASTANA – The 2022 Wimbledon Champion and the first Kazakh racket Elena Rybakina made it to the finals at the 2023 Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 26.

The main match of the women’s singles tournament will take place in Melbourne on Jan. Rybakina will face the winner of the match between Magda Lynette (Poland) and Arina Sobolenko (Belarus). Rybakina won over the former first world racket Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), and the women’s singles match ended with a score of 7:6, 6:3.

What all seemed so different, so daunting, even, about trying to win a Grand Slam title to Elena Rybakina a little more than six months ago is now coming ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. Her performance was particularly noteworthy against a returner and defender as established on hard courts as Azarenka, a former No 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina’s win over Azarenka, the champion at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, added to what already was an impressive run through a string of top opponents. It wasn’t the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers.

Rybakina claimed a 7-6(4) 6-3 victory over twice champion Victoria Azarenka in the first semi-final on Thursday, ending the chance of an awkward all-Belarusian ...

ELENA RYBAKINA will take on Aryna Sabalenka for a big-hitting Australian Open women's final on Saturday. In two similar semi-finals, Wimbledon champion ...

With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power. The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. “There is still one more match to go,” said the Belarusian, who is yet to drop a set in 10 matches in 2023.

The two stars will play for the title in Melbourne after storming to a pair of straight-set semifinal victories.

* Best Australian Open result: finalist 2023 "For sure I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and, to be honest, I just want to come on court and really enjoy the moment, enjoy the atmosphere because it's really amazing," she said. "It's an incredible atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in the finals and play one more time here." Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and rampant world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka will play for the 2023 Australian Open crown after storming to a pair of straight-set semi-final triumphs in Melbourne. Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina to face world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka in Australian Open final

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has another shot at a major title after reaching the Australian Open final where she will meet Belarusian ...

"I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and I want to come on court [for the final] and enjoy the moment." "I'm super happy to be in the final and play one more time here," she said. "I wouldn't say I started really well but in the tie-break I found my rhythm and trusted myself and started going for my shots," said Sabalenka, who is on a 10-match winning streak after lifting the Adelaide title.

Australian viewers joined Microsoft mogul Bill Gates in watching Elena Rybakina triumph over Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open yesterday.

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What all seemed so different, so daunting, even, about trying to win a Grand Slam title to Elena Rybakina a little more than six months ago is now coming ...

Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set belonged to Rybakina. Rybakina encountered similar issues and her occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are rather misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. “Kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. It wasn't the case that each and every shot Sabalenka hit landed right on a line, but it must have seemed that way to Linette. Azarenka lost the mark on her strokes, for the most part, making things smoother for Rybakina, while Sabalenka raced to a 6-0 lead in hers. She delivered serves at up to 189 km/h and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will on Thursday. “For sure, they’re very experienced players,” said Rybakina, whose parents and sister have been in town throughout the Australian Open. “In the tiebreaker, I really found my rhythm,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka is far less cautious, though, and her penchant for high-risk, high-reward play was evident against Linette, who had never before been past the third round in 29 appearances at majors.