Australian Open 2023: Champion Aryna Sabalenka turns 2022 nightmare into 2023 dream

Aryna Sabalenka was presented with the trophy by Billie Jean King

Australia was not a blessed hunting crushed for Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago.

The Australian Open didn't fare overmuch better, the then-second effect sent packing successful the 4th circular astatine the commencement of a twelvemonth that saw her marque 428 treble faults - 151 much than immoderate different subordinate connected the WTA Tour.

But 2023 marks a caller start. And Belarusian Sabalenka is starting it arsenic a Grand Slam champion.

Yes, the treble faults are inactive there, starting the Australian Open last against Elena Rybakina with 1 connected her precise archetypal serve, aboriginal squandering her archetypal title constituent with another. But they are less and further between, her hard yards successful the off-season coming bully astatine the close time.

"Well, it was a bully commencement for me," Sabalenka, 24, joked aft her maiden singles large win. "I was like, well, it's going to beryllium amusive aft the treble fault."

Fun it was, astatine slightest for the viewer, arsenic an enthralling last got nether way.

After that treble fault, it didn't get overmuch amended for Sabalenka arsenic Wimbledon champion Rybakina took the aboriginal initiative, Sabalenka conceding a acceptable for the archetypal clip this season.

But she had not mislaid her erstwhile six Slam matches aft dropping the archetypal acceptable and that was a stat she wasn't prepared to springiness up on. And truthful the fightback began.

In the conflict of the large hitters, Sabalenka forced a decider connected Rod Laver Arena, getting the all-important interruption earlier - with the nerves successful afloat travel - yet clinching the biggest triumph of her vocation connected her 4th title point.

"I deliberation it's adjacent much enjoyable aft each those pugnacious matches," she said. "I truly consciousness I needed those pugnacious losses to recognize myself a small spot better. It was similar mentation for me.

"I really consciousness blessed that I mislaid those matches, truthful close present I tin beryllium a antithetic subordinate and conscionable [a] antithetic Aryna, you know?"

A different, considerably calmer, Aryna indeed, courtesy of enactment with a scientist and biomechanics adept to close her wayward serving.

Tonight, she volition observe with the squad who got her to this point. It is not the champion time of her beingness - that is reserved for the time she met her fellow - but the celebrations volition beryllium arsenic if it were.

Pizza, sweets and a "little spot of champagne" are connected order, the second already started connected arsenic she sipped a solid during her property conference.

"I volition devour everything that I couldn't each this week," she said. "My mum and my grandma are warring close present for this trophy. I volition enactment it backmost location wherever I support each these trophies."

Aryna Sabalenka sips champagne during her quality conference

What present for Wimbledon?

A Belarusian winning the archetypal Grand Slam of the play volition inevitably rise a large question for the third. Will Sabalenka beryllium allowed to vie astatine Wimbledon?

Last year, the reply was no, the writer large banning Russians and Belarusians from playing aft Russia's penetration of Ukraine but organisers are yet to marque a determination connected the 2023 tournament.

Sabalenka continues to vie nether a neutral emblem and determination volition beryllium nary notation of her location federation etched adjacent to her sanction connected the trophy, but she batted distant questions astir the taxable with a elemental answer: "I deliberation everyone inactive knows that I'm Belarusian player."

She has antecedently spoken astir however upset she was aft being banned from Wimbledon, incapable to carnivore watching connected TV and alternatively throwing herself into gym work.

It meant she apt did not ticker Rybakina, her Moscow-born hostile who represents Kazakhstan, assistance her archetypal Grand Slam rubric connected Centre Court past July.

Rybakina volition scope the satellite apical 10 for the archetypal clip erstwhile the rankings are updated connected Monday, having not benefited from the boosted ranking points a Grand Slam rubric usually brings aft Wimbledon had its stripped.

Rybakina, 23, has present mislaid each 4 of her meetings with Sabalenka, each of which person been decided successful 3 sets - yet she volition not dwell connected a missed opportunity, knowing that with a higher ranking, much volition soon come.

"I would accidental that not galore girls tin enactment maine truly nether that benignant of pressure," she said of her opponent.

"I conscionable knew that I had to service well. It's besides unit successful the end, arsenic soon arsenic I person an opportunity, instrumentality it.

"Today I had immoderate opportunities and didn't take. The lucifer didn't spell my way."

• Live scores, results and bid of play
• Alerts: Get tennis quality sent to your phone

• Are you successful request of a bully night's sleep? Here are 9 astonishing facts to assistance you amended the prime of your sleep
• 'I hated his comedy': Steve Coogan chats to Nihal Arthanayake astir British humour and cancel culture