Aryna Sabalenka’s serve was in pieces a year ago and she was having to scrape through fraught battles in Australia as her fragile emotions were laid painfully bare.
Now she is a Grand Slam champion after defeating Elena Rybakina in three high-quality sets to win the Australian Open on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Belarusian dropped her first set of 2023 in the final in Melbourne but roared back to beat the reigning Wimbledon champion 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
‘SHE PROVED ME WRONG’: Sabalenka stuns in ‘ridiculous’ Aus Open epic
Sabalenka claps remakable Rybakina shot | 00:45
Sabalenka has now won all 11 matches she has contested this season, with big-serving Rybakina the latest to succumb to her power game and new-found mental strength.
It is a stark contrast to a year ago.
Then, Sabalenka’s serve and nerves were her biggest enemies. She was reduced to tears on court at a tournament in the…