There is a new womens champion of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament 2023.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won with 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the finals in Melbourne, Australia today.
Interestingly, the loser, Rybakina is the current champion of the Wimbledon Glam Slam Tournament who had to switch her nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan to avoid the controvesy sorrounding the ban of Russian athletes because of the sanctions on Russia over the Russian/Ukraine war.
Sabalenka had been barred from competing at Wimbledon for same reason as her country, Belarus was under sanctions as Russia. With this win she goes home with the $2.08 million prize money for the winner.
The runner up, Elena Rybakina goes home with the consolation prize of $1.12 million.
This years Australian Open has been marred by several controversies involving star player withdrawals and political issues about Russia and related athletes.
