TIE-BREAKFAST - 01/02 Australian Open

Good morning and welcome back to TIE-Breakfast.

The morning appointment with Ace Cream that tells you everything you need to know before starting your day.

Today is Sunday, February 1st, in Melbourne it's 6:30 PM and it's 18 degrees. OK, let's go.

Today's breakfast

• Rybakina comes back to beat Sabalenka and wins her first Australian Open
• Sabalenka loses her second consecutive final in Melbourne
• Coming up: the men's final - Alcaraz vs Djokovic for history

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY:

Rybakina Comes Back To Beat Sabalenka And Conquers Melbourne

Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and eighteen minutes, claiming her first Australian Open and second Slam title after Wimbledon 2022.

The match told a story that went beyond the scoreline. Sabalenka was up 3-0 in the third set, seemingly having regained the control that had characterized her two previous winning finals in Melbourne. And yet, from that moment on, she won just one game. Rybakina rattled off five consecutive games to go up 5-3, closed it out with an ace on her first match point, and showed the kind of ice-cold composure that separates Slam winners from runners-up. The Kazakh becomes the first player since 2019 to win the Australian Open by beating three consecutive top 10 players: Swiatek in the quarterfinals, Pegula in the semifinals, Sabalenka in the final. It's a stat that explains the level she had to maintain for two weeks, perhaps more than any tactical analysis could.

Sabalenka And Her Second Consecutive Lost Final

Aryna Sabalenka leaves the Australian Open with another finalist trophy, her third in the last four Slams, second consecutive in Melbourne.

"I was really upset with myself," she admitted in the press conference, with the honesty that has become her trademark. "I had the opportunities. I played well up to a certain point, and then I couldn't handle her aggressiveness." The concerning stat is her Slam finals record: now 4-3, with the last two losses coming in comebacks when she seemed in control. Last year Madison Keys, this year Rybakina. Two defeats that resemble each other more than Sabalenka would like to admit, telling a story about the difference between dominating a match and actually closing it out.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY:

• Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs Novak Djokovic (4) - Men's final, Rod Laver Arena, from 9:30 AM Italian time. Alcaraz is chasing his first Australian Open and the completion of the Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old, a feat that would make him the youngest ever. Djokovic is hunting his 25th Slam, which would take him past Margaret Court in the all-time count. Head-to-head shows 5-4 for the Serbian, but 0-2 in Slam finals (Wimbledon 2023 and 2024). After his marathon against Zverev, Alcaraz admitted to being tired: "I'll do everything possible to be ready." Nadal said the favorite is Carlos, "but Novak is Novak."

Further reading

• Australian Open, LIVE women's final: Rybakina triumphs over Sabalenka
• Sabalenka 'really upset' at blowing Australian Open final chances
• History-chasing Djokovic and Alcaraz meet in Australian Open 2026 final

Enjoy your breakfast and have a great day.

See you tomorrow at 8:30 AM with TIE-Breakfast