2023 started on a better note for Aryna Sabalenko, after the athlete from Belarus won the Australian Open, ending a more than two-hour match against Elena Rybakina (4-6, 6-3, 6-4).

Aryna SabalenkoPhoto: Ella Ling / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

>>> Arina Sabalenko lost her words after the Australian Open 2023 triumph: “Everyone is shaking”

Aryna Sabalenko about the first Grand Slam trophy in her career – now I’m a different player

Arina Sabalenko had a perfect tournament, and the athlete from Belarus lost only one game at the Australian Open, the grand final.

She did not meet such strong opponents as Olena Rybakina (25 WTA), who knocked out the first favorite Iga Svyatek (1 WTA) on her way to the final.

However, the athlete from Kazakhstan could not keep up with the athlete, who occupies the 5th place in the WTA hierarchy, who eventually triumphed in Melbourne in three sets.

“It still feels like a dream. I’m afraid I’ll wake up to it and be disappointed.

I fought hard to get here and now I am extremely happy. I didn’t expect to cry, but so many things went through my mind after I realized I had won the Australian Open.

I am extremely proud of myself, my team, this is the most wonderful moment in my life.” – said Aryna Sabalenko.

In addition, Aryna Sabalenko said in an interview with wtatennis.com that in the final she did several things that helped her to win at the end of the match.

“I’ve been going through tough times in my career and sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve this.

But everything happens for a purpose, I wouldn’t be here, a Grand Slam winner, if it weren’t for bad moments. I would be emotional the whole time on the field, screaming and yelling.

Instead, I started playing tennis and just focused on that. Now I am a different player, I have more respect for myself and what I do.

I am confident in myself, and thanks to this confidence, I became a Grand Slam champion. I thought if I yelled “come on” on the field and kept hitting the ball hard, it would mean a fight.

I now understand that the struggle is to be able to keep going when times are tough.

What I won in Melbourne is like a drug, I want to taste Grand Slam success again. This motivates me immensely.” – she told.

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