SUMMARY
- Aryna Sabalenka is set to lock horns with Elena Rybakina in the finals of Brisbane International.
- This is their first final clash since Indian Wells in 2023.
Two of the top WTA stars are set to battle it out in the Brisbane International finals. Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka will lock horns with Elena Rybakina, and the match promises to be an exciting one. The two of them have forged an incredible rivalry, standing on the foundations of mutual respect. Fierce competitors as they are, the two are comfortable enough to joke with each other and get away with it too
Both Sabalenka and Rybakina have been playing consistently in the last couple of years. They have collected several trophies in the last couple of years. Both players are Grand Slam champions, and their matchups are always entertaining.
Sabalenka and Rybakina are set to clash in the finals again, and an old clip of theirs has surfaced online. The video is from Indian Wells in 2023, and it shows Aryna’s cheeky side during the presentation ceremony.
Elena Rybakina & Aryna Sabalenka are playing a final for the first time since this moment.
Tennis is winning in 2024.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 6, 2024
Sabalenka lost to Elena in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open, even though she fought hard. She was no match for Rybakina, who defeated her 7-6 (11), 6-4, in straight sets. During the presentation ceremony, Elena was gracious in her speech and thanked Aryna, as it was the first match that Rybakina had won against her.
However, Sabalenka was in the mood to engage in some banter, as she stuck her tongue out at Elena. This earned her a lot of laughs from the crowd. She then went a step further and hilariously injected Elena’s speech with, “I will make sure it was the last one.”
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are set to lock horns in the finals once again this year. Both players are very competitive and always bring their best to the court.
Brisbane International final: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina match preview
Top-seeded Sabalenka will take on second-seeded Rybakina in Brisbane on Sunday, January 7. Both players have been playing phenomenally well to kick off their 2024 season.
Sabalenka enjoyed an incredible season in 2023. She won her maiden Grand Slam, the Australian Open, by defeating Rybakina. Aryna made deep runs at each tournament she played at and made it to the finals of the US Open too.
The big-hitting Belarusian capped off her season with a semifinal finish at the WTA Finals, where she lost to Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka defeated the likes of Daria Kasatkina and Victoria Azarenka to book a final berth.
Rybakina also enjoyed a decent season, even though she was plagued with injuries and health issues. The Kazakh star won several titles too, although she has not won a Slam since Wimbledon 2022. Elena established her dominance by defeating players like Anastasia Potapova and Linda Noskova en route to the finals.
The two of them have locked horns seven times so far, with Aryna leading their head-to-head with five wins. Their last match had been at the WTA Finals, where Sabalenka won. Aryna Sabalenka will hope to extend that lead on Sunday.