This was Sabalenka’s first Grand Slam singles victory. Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first Grand Slam women’s singles title at the Australian Open by defeating Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final. The 24-year-old Belarusian player demonstrated her fearlessness on the big stage, overcoming her history of crumbling under pressure in late-round Grand Slams. In a match-up of two of the biggest hitters in tennis, Sabalenka’s fearless and clinical performance clinched her first Grand Slam title in a career previously plagued by big-moment meltdowns and errors.

The match was a microcosm of Sabalenka’s career, beginning with a shaky start and ill-timed double faults before a mid-match recovery and a final-set display of raw power and precision that her opponent could not match. Sabalenka’s victory was made possible by her decision to take a contrarian approach to her mental preparation. She fired her sports psychologist and chose to overcome her struggles on her own.