Elena Rybakina will bid to win a second grand slam title when she faces Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final on Saturday.
The Wimbledon champion has lost all three previous matches against Sabalenka, who is through to her first grand slam final and is yet to drop a set this season.
The final is set to be a battle between two big-hitting and powerful players but both Rybakina and Sabalenka had to adjust to the slower conditions of playing at night in Melbourne in the semi-finals.
“It’s going to be a tough battle,” Rybakina said. “I think as today maybe I will not have to serve that big, that fast. The ball is not really going.” Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Australian Open women’s final.
When is the Australian Open final?
It will take place on Saturday 28 January and will start from 8:30am GMT.
How to watch the Australian Open 2023
You can watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.
Sky has also announced that starting today, Discovery+ will be available at no extra cost for Sky customers, including for Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers.
If you’re not already a Sky customer, you can get a Sky Stream box, which comes with Sky TV and a Netflix basic plan. The device is currently discounted in Sky’s winter sale (was £26 per month, now £24 per month, Sky.com). This is Sky’s new device, and doesn’t require a satellite dish as it streams Sky directly over wifi.
Meanwhile, ESPN has the rights in the US.
What are the odds?
Rybakina: 6/5
Sabalenka: 8/11
Prediction
In the clash of two big-hitting players, Sabalenka showed cleaner form and confidence from the baseline in the semi-finals. Rybakina has the edge in grand slam final experience and the huge weapon of her first will split the first two sets, but Sabalenka’s powerful game will be key in the decider.
