Elena Rybakina has promised to ‘fight till the end’ as she attempts to shed her one-slam wonder tag and also avenge her 2023 Australian Open final defeat against Aryna Sabalenka.
The powerful Russian-born Kazakh, who made her major breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2022, has reached her third grand slam decider in impressive fashion, with the fifth seed not dropping a set in six matches.
And the 26-year-old steps up to face a familiar foe with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup – plus a whopping $4.1 million prize cheque – on the line at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
World No.1 Sabalenka boasts an 8-6 record in their career meetings, but Rybakina was victorious last time when she won the WTA Finals in November.
It is why Rybakina won’t be intimidated by the Belarusian, who has contested the past three finals at Melbourne Park.
In the 2023 AO final between the pair, Sabalenka fought back from a set down to claim the first of her four major crowns to date.
Elena Rybakina has promised to ‘fight till the end’ as she attempts to shed her one-slam wonder tag and also avenge her 2023 Australian Open final defeat against Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka has also not dropped a set in six matches, as she aims for a third title in four years at Melbourne Park
‘It was very close. Throughout the match, of course, I had some little opportunities but in the end of the third set, I think Aryna stepped up,’ Rybakina said.
‘She served much better. Yeah, she deserved that win.
‘So of course, many years passed (since then), a lot of matches have been played.
‘Hopefully with all the experience which I got from that last match, last time (the) final I played here, I can bring it on Saturday and do my best.
‘Fight till the end, and hopefully this time it’s going to go my way.’
Rybakina took confidence from her WTA Finals victory and has continued her hot form at Melbourne Park this year.
The Kazakh backed up a quarter-final thrashing of world No.2 Iga Swiatek with a powerful display against sixth seed Jessica Pegula in their semi-final.
‘Definitely very happy to be in the final again,’ Rybakina said.
‘I was close other years, seasons, when I played semis in the other slams, but yeah, now I’m closer, which is great.
‘It’s just one step to go.’
Sabalenka has also not dropped a set en-route to the final, as she aims for a third AO crown in four years.
The Belarusian powerhouse was stunned by American Madison Keys in last year’s final as the two-time defending champion.
Live action will start at 7.30pm AEDT on Saturday, with coverage on Channel Nine.
