Elena Rybakina is into another Australian Open final, having battled to a hard-fought win over Jessica Pegula.
And, in doing so, she has set up a mouth-watering clash with Aryna Sabalenka, a repeat of the 2023 final which is still praised today.
It pits two of the sport’s biggest hitters against one another, and after what has been an underwhelming tournament in terms of quality and drama, perhaps this final might make it all worthwhile.
It really is impossible to call who might emerge victorious from Saturday’s showdown, but one pundit has explained why she thinks it’s Elena Rybakina who has the advantage.
Elena Rybakina’s Australian Open advantage over Aryna Sabalenka
Speaking live on TNT Sports, right after her win over Pegula, Coco Vandeweghe was full of praise for the Kazakhstani superstar.
And, whilst she conceded that her movement might not be as good as Sabalenka’s, she was certain that Rybakina would gain a slight edge elsewhere with her well-rounded game.
Who is your money on?
Vandeweghe claimed: “I think Rybakina’s movement is really limited in comparison to Sabalenka. I think Sabalenka moves a bit freer around the court. My question is, when we get into that match-up, the backhand-to-backhand scenario. I think Rybakina has the advantage in that one.
“It’s whether or not, when Sabalenka is faced with that question of I’m not winning the rallies on the backhand, do I start pulling the trigger line too early and risk more errors?
“I think that’s something she needs to be able to monitor and watch because it’s hard to get to the Rybakina forehand enough times if you can’t sustain the backhand crosscourt rally.”
Sabalenka accomplished a 24-year-old feat in reaching the final, and she does boast far more experience at this level than Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina’s head-to-head record vs Aryna Sabalenka
This will mark the 15th meeting between these two WTA powerhouses, and their second in a Grand Slam final.
Naturally, many will look back to their 2023 meeting at the Australian Open as the most crucial comparison between the two, where Sabalenka came out on top in a tight, well-contested affair.
Who has impressed you the most?
However, perhaps more important was their most recent match, with Rybakina claiming the victory in the final of the WTA Finals.
She also boasts an impressive record against top-ten opponents, having won her last nine matches against those at the apex of the sport.
Currently, Sabalenka leads the head-to-head with eight wins to Rybakina’s six.
