Australian Open: Rybakina and Sabalenka will battle each other – and their demons

Kazakhstan's Elena Elena has met Aryna Sabalenka three times and come off second-best. Will the AO final turn the tide. Photo: AAP

Asked yesterday what he really thought of his charge, the man publicly denounced for shouting at Elena Rybakina from the stands during Thursday’s singles semi-final was full of superlatives.

“She’s a wonderful girl,” said Stefano Vukov, who has coached Rybakina for the past four years. “She listens a lot. Very calm, stoic but a sweetheart.”