MELBOURNE: Fifth seed Elena Rybakina won the first set of the Australian Open final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.
The 26-year-old, who was born in Moscow but represents Kazakhstan, broke in the first game and served out for the set 6-4 in 37 minutes at Melbourne Park.
Rybakina is chasing a first Australian Open title while Belarusian Sabalenka is seeking her third.
