Rybakina survives incredible Pegula fightback to set up Sabalenka final

VIDEO SHOWS: ELENA RYBAKINA BEATING JESSICA PEGULA 6-3, 7-6(7) AND RYBAKINA INTERVIEWED ON COURT AFTER SHOWS: JESSICA PEGULA (ORANGE / USA) RESULT ELENA RYBAKINA (CREAM / KAZAKHSTAN), 6-3 7-6(7) 1. JESSICA PEGULA WALKING OUT AND WAVING AT THE CROWD / ELENA RYBAKINA WALKING OUT FIRST SET 2. RYBAKINA HITTING OVERHEAD SMASH TO WIN POINT ON THE WAY TO BREAKING PEGULA'S FIRST SERVICE GAME / RYBAKINA'S TEAM APPLAUDING 3. RYBAKINA HITTING CROSS COURT BACKHAND WINNER 4. RYBAKINA FAILING TO RETURN PEGULA FOREHAND AS PEGULA FIGHTS BACK ON BREAK POINT 5. SET POINT – RYBAKINA HITTING FOREHAND WINNER TO TAKE THE FIRST SET SECOND SET 6. RYBAKINA HITTING CROSS COURT BACKHAND WINNER 7. PEGULA FINDING NET TO SET UP RYBAKINA BREAK POINT 8. BREAK POINT – RYBAKINA HITTING OUT AS PEGULA BREAKS BACK / CROWD APPLAUDING 9. RYBAKINA HITTING FOREHAND WINNER DOWN THE LINE 10. RYBAKINA HTTING LONG ON HER FIRST MATCH POINT AT 5-3 11. RYBAKINA FAILING TO RETURN PEGULA'S SERVE TO HAND PEGULA A TIGHT GAME 12. PEGULA HITTING FOREHAND DOWN THE LINE ON THE WAY TO BREAKING RYBAKINA 13. PEGULA HITTING OUT AS RYBAKINA BREAKS BACK / PEGULA HITTING RACKET ON FLOOR 14. BREAK POINT – RYBAKINA HITTING LONG AS PEGULA BREAKS TO TAKE SECOND SET TO TIEBREAK / PEGULA'S TEAM APPLAUDING 15. RYBAKINA HITTING FOREHAND WINNER ON PEGULA'S FIRST SET POINT IN THE TIEBREAK 16. PEGULA HITTING INTO THE NET ON HER SECOND SET POINT IN THE TIEBREAK 17. MATCH POINT – RYBAKINA RETURNING A BACKHAND WINNER DOWN THE LINE TO TAKE THE SET AND THE MATCH / RYBAKINA'S TEAM APPLAUDING / PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS AT THE NET / PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS WITH THE UMPIRE / RYBAKINA WAVING TO CROWD / CROWD APPLAUDING 18.   STORY: Jessica Pegula’s incredible second set comeback was halted in a tight tiebreak on Thursday (January 29), as Elena Rybakina set up an Australian Open final with Aryna Sabalenka. American Pegula had two set points in the tiebreak, having saved three match points earlier in the set, and breaking Rybakina twice when the fifth seed was serving for the match. Ultimately Kazakh Rybakina was too strong for sixth seed Pegula, who was broken in her first service game as the 26-year-old eased through the opening set at 6-3. But the American’s resistance started at when serving at 3-5 in the second, saving three match points, and taking the second set to a tiebreak. She had two opportunities to take the second set with all the momentum on her side, but failure to convert opened the door for Rybakina, who only needed one opportunity in the tiebreak to wrap up the match. The win for Rybakina sets up Saturday’s final as a repeat of 2023, where Belarusian Sabalenka came out on top. However, the World Number One will be looking to avenge her own defeat in the final last year, losing out to Madison Keys. Both women are yet to drop a set at this year’s slam, and whilst Sabalenka has hit the most winners at this year’s tournament (172), Rybakina has the most aces (41). And its the fifth seed that pips the top seed in their head-to-head record on the hard courts, at 6-5, setting up what should be a thrilling encounter on Saturday (January 31). (Production: Joseph Andrews)

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