Australian Open Women’s Final Delivers Thrilling Victory and Commentary Mix-Up
Elena Rybakina secures her second Grand Slam title by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women’s final, capping a dramatic three-set match with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The victory marks a strong rebound for Rybakina after a challenging start to 2025, including her coach’s suspension, following her WTA Finals triumph in November.
Rybakina’s calm demeanor shone through as she sealed the win with an ace in the third set, overcoming a rival who previously bested her in the 2023 final here. The 26-year-old, representing Kazakhstan despite her Moscow birth, celebrated modestly with a fist pump and a wave to the crowd at Melbourne Park.
Tennis Legend Chris Evert’s On-Air Slip During Broadcast
During live coverage, tennis icon Chris Evert commented on Rybakina’s subdued emotional display, contrasting it with her businesslike Wimbledon win in 2021. ‘The first time she won a major at Wimbledon, it was very businesslike and there was really no emotion,’ Evert noted. ‘She really looks like she was so happy, so joyful, and allowed herself to have some emotions there and it was really nice to see.’
The discussion shifted to Sabalenka’s performance, but Evert stumbled over the champion’s name. ‘But listen, Ariana, Aryna, Ariana Grande,’ she said, before correcting herself. ‘Aryna Sabalenka is used to having every match on her racket,’ Evert added, recovering smoothly. ‘And she finally came up against an opponent who plays the same way.’
Post-Match Reflections from the Players
Rybakina admitted the internal intensity behind her composed exterior. ‘The heart rate was definitely beating too fast. Even maybe my face didn’t show, but inside it was a lot of emotions,’ she said. She emphasized the need to stay sharp after a tense semifinal against Jessica Pegula, where she converted her match point after nearly 30 minutes.
Sabalenka, who defended her titles from 2023 and 2024, reflected on her third-set lapse. ‘I was 3-0 [in the third set]. I lost my focus and it was 3-4,’ she explained. ‘She did a better job in handling that pressure moment, that’s for sure. Maybe I should have tried to be more aggressive on my serve, knowing that I have a break and put pressure on her.’
The Belarusian praised her opponent’s play despite the regrets. ‘But she played incredible. She made some winners. I made couple of unforced errors. Of course, I have regrets … you lead 3-0 and then it felt like in few seconds it was 3-4 and I was down a break. So it was very fast. Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me.’
Fans React to Evert’s Humorous Name Mix-Up
The commentary blunder quickly caught the attention of viewers, sparking lighthearted discussions online. One fan questioned, ‘Did Chris Evert really call Aryna Sabalenka, Ariana Grande?’ Another clarified, ‘No, she was kidding after she mispronounced Aryna’s first name.’ A third added, ‘Oh, I thought it was gonna be a total slip-up. That was a pretty funny little bit of self-deprecation.’
The moment added a touch of levity to an otherwise intense final, highlighting the high-stakes drama of Grand Slam tennis.
