There was a time when Aryna Sabalenka questioned herself when fans asked her for an autograph.
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“I had a strange feeling. I told myself that I was nobody, a simple player, that I hadn’t won a major title. »
Since Saturday, the Belarusian no longer has to feel this famous “impostor syndrome”. At 24, Sabalenka is a Grand Slam champion after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Kazakh Elena Rybakina.
Be that as it may, Melbourne’s fifth favorite shed that awkwardness some time ago. And that change of heart no doubt contributed to that first major coronation, which was acknowledged at a press conference by Sabalenka, who will return to world No. 2 tomorrow.
“In the end, I respected myself more,” she told reporters, holding the champion’s champagne flute. I understood that I’m here because I work hard and I’m a good player. »
The “Queen of Double Faults”
Sabalenka has been one of the most dominant players on the circuit for a while. But most of his final season was marred by recurring problems with his second serve.
So much so that the Belarusian proclaimed herself the “Queen of Double Faults”.
Adjustments made ahead of the US Open allowed him to reach the semifinals in New York and then the finals of the season-ending Masters. And the mighty Sabalenka are now 11 games unbeaten at the start of the season, winning first in Adelaide and then in Melbourne.
However, the winner opened this final with a double fault against Rybakina, 22nd favorite in Australia and last year’s Wimbledon winner. She also committed one on her first match point.
“I thought at the time that service would be fun… But I knew that part wasn’t going to be easy. I kept working hard. »
So much so that minutes later, Sabalenka was celebrating “the best moment of her life” since meeting her boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, a former Pittsburgh Penguins player.
The champion also sent her a kiss on camera during the press conference, which was supposed to follow Koltsov live.
The first without a flag
Sabalenka also became the first player without a flag to win a Grand Slam title on Saturday since the ATP and WTA stripped athletes from Russia and Belarus of the right to compete under their colors after invading Ukraine almost a year ago .
The athlete did not want to delve further into the topic. “Anyway, everyone knows I’m from Belarus,” she blurted out.
And its president Alexander Lukashenko filmed himself toasting to the young player’s health shortly after her triumph – apparently with vodka.
It is the country’s first major title since Victoria Azarenka, also in Melbourne, 10 years ago.
– With AFP