The rematch of the "Double B Battle" at the Australian Open: What will happen when Sabalenka and Rybakina face off again after three years?

Sabalenka and Rybakina defeated Svitolina and Pegula respectively to meet in the Australian Open final, making the much-anticipated "Double B Battle" come true, but how to define this match has become a puzzle for fans and online communities!

Some say this is a reenactment of the 2023 Australian Open women's singles final. Back then, after losing to Sabalenka despite winning the first set, Rybakina had to postpone shedding her Grand Slam label. Now, with a chance to clash at the peak in Melbourne Park, she will surely do everything possible to exact revenge.

Others argue that this is a rematch of last year’s Riyadh year-end final, a revenge battle for Sabalenka. Last year, the Belarusian was the top favorite for the year-end championship but lost in straight sets to Rybakina, including a bagel in the second-set tiebreak. Such a defeat on hard court was clearly a humiliation for the hard court queen.

Because of the different meanings the public attaches to this women’s singles focal clash, there is a strong curiosity about what will happen when the "Double B Battle" reenacts at the Australian Open after three years — who will take revenge in the end?

Judging by their performances during the current Australian Open progression, both Sabalenka and Rybakina are in good form.

Sabalenka overwhelmed the Ukrainian star Svitolina with her sheer power, breaking through a solid defense; Rybakina disrupted Pegula’s diverse tactical combinations with her serve. Both won decisively in straight sets without dragging the match, seemingly saving energy for the championship showdown.

There’s no doubt both Sabalenka and Rybakina want the Australian Open women’s singles title this year, but their motivations might differ.

For Sabalenka, losing last year’s final to the American star Keys cost her a historic moment. Even if she wins this year’s title, it would merely make up for last year’s regret and increase her Grand Slam count from four to five.

However, for Rybakina, the situation is entirely different.

After defeating the wealthy American Pegula, Rybakina’s immediate world ranking rose to third place. Winning the women’s singles title this year would bring the Kazakh beauty closer to her grand goal declared last year: becoming world number one.

Moreover, this Australian Open title could help Rybakina finally shed her Grand Slam hoodoo. Facing her old rival Sabalenka in the final, the motivation to reclaim the title at Melbourne Park will clearly boost her drive and make her a bigger threat.

Therefore, some believe that in this Australian Open final rematch, the favorable outcome is more likely to lean toward Rybakina, making it somewhat difficult for Sabalenka to claim the women’s singles crown.

Although Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 8-6 overall, on hard courts, the Belarusian trails 5-6 against Rybakina.

What makes some doubt Sabalenka’s chances to avenge last year’s year-end final defeat on the Australian Open stage are subtle details revealed during their previous encounter.

In last year’s Riyadh match, Rybakina served 13 aces while Sabalenka had 5, showing the Kazakh’s serve is a powerful weapon. This serve played a crucial role in her semifinal win over Pegula at the Australian Open.

Interestingly, regarding winners and unforced errors, Sabalenka had 12 winners but 27 unforced errors; Rybakina had a higher 36 winners with 22 unforced errors.

From these stats, Rybakina’s victory was not only due to her more threatening serve but also better execution of details, which was the key to her final success.

After meeting in the Australian Open final, Rybakina and Sabalenka emphasized two points about the upcoming title match: first, their serve; second, focusing on playing their own game.

These two points can be summarized as: as long as the serve is strong and the details are better handled than Sabalenka, Rybakina will deny Sabalenka a chance to avenge last year’s year-end final loss and instead avenge her own loss from three years ago at the Australian Open final.

Of course, while many think this might be tough for Sabalenka, Rybakina also clearly stated that both players have evolved, and she believes Sabalenka will adopt targeted strategies to counter her, adding an element of unpredictability to the predictions.

One thing is certain: this match will be fiercely contested. Whoever can perform their strongest skills to the fullest and minimize mistakes will be the one to celebrate at the end.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)