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The Australian Open went against tradition after Aryna Sabalenka won the women’s singles title on Saturday, with a noticeable difference in the trophy after her victory. The world No 5 is Belarusian but did not have her country engraved alongside her name like past winners after players from Russia and Belarus were made to play as neutrals following the invasion of Ukraine.
Sabalenka won her maiden Grand Slam title on Saturday, coming from behind to down 22nd seed Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4. It was the 24-year-old’s 11th win in a row and means she remains unbeaten in 2023, having also lifted the Adelaide trophy at the start of the season.
The world No 5 had long been touted to win a Major following her breakout year in 2018 but after she finally got her hands on the biggest title of her career, she was left without her country engraved on the trophy in a statement move from the Australian Open. It comes after the ATP, WTA, ITF and four Grand Slams released a joint statement last March in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, confirming that all Russian and Belarusian players would compete as neutral athletes without any mention of their flag or country.
And Sabalenka became the first player from either nation to win a Grand Slam singles title since the sanction was brought in, prompting the tournament to miss out the name of her country when engraving the trophy with the 24-year-old’s name.
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