Aryna Sabalenka was crowned Australian Open champion with an epic three-set victory over Elena Rybakina

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Good morning, and welcome to our coverage of the 2023 Australian Open Final from Melbourne.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina takes on Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in what promises to be a show of power that hits from the baseline.

Rybakina beat world number one Iga Swiatek, two-time French Open winner Victoria Azarenka, Jelena Ostapenko, and Danielle Collins on her way to the final.

“It’s going to be a tough fight,” Rybakina said. “I think I probably wouldn’t have to serve that big, that fast, so speed doesn’t really matter. It’s important to have a good serve position. In those conditions, to deliver full force, it’s not easy the ball doesn’t really go.

“Yeah, same on the baseline. Just to play deeper and do the same thing, try to progress, only to expect maybe longer rallies than usual.”

For Sabalenka, this will be her first Grand Slam final. So far, she’s won 89 percent of her service matches in the tournament, and has lasted 49 of 55, meaning she’s been broken an average of just once per match. Confident in her ability to keep her cool.

“Honestly, I think I wouldn’t do an extra,” she said. “Like, I think it’s okay to be a little nervous. It’s a big tournament, a big final. If you’re going to start trying to do something about it, it’s going to get bigger, you know? I’ll just leave it at that. It’s okay to be nervous.”

“In terms of the match, yeah, she’s playing great tennis and serving well. I have to be there and I have to work again for her and put her under pressure.”

Stay tuned for the duration of the build before 8:30am.

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