After one of the most breathtaking days in Australian Open history, all eyes are on the women’s final, with hopes Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina can match the heights of their 2023 decider.
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FROM 14 CENTS TO $900K: AUSSIE DUO’S INCREDIBLE ROAD TO SHOT AT FAIRYTALE AO TITLE
When it comes to knowing the value of a dollar, Aussie Open doubles aspirants Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans know better than most the importance of making sacrifices.
The locals will play for not just an Australian Open title on Saturday afternoon against Neil Skupski and Christian Harrison but also a purse of $900,000 to be split between the winners.
Even the runners-up pairing will pocket $485,000 between them, an amount that is eye-opening for most but also a prize that comes through years of perseverance.
Kubler, who won an Australian Open doubles title with Rinky Hijikata in 2023, was a world class junior before being stricken with a chronic knee condition that derailed him for years.
In his mid-20s there was a stage where the Queenslander with the superb backhand had just 14 cents in his bank account while spending time on the sidelines, earning pocket change while coaching in Brisbane and shopping only for supermarket specials.
As he matured the knee complaint has become more manageable and Kubler, despite suffering other significant injuries, reached the last 16 at Wimbledon back in 2023 while peaking at a singles ranking of 63.
“I remember the Aussie Open (in 2018) was big because it was kind of crazy,” he told foxsports.com.au a few years ago.
“I went from having no money and staying home to, all of a sudden, I made eighty grand in the space of a few months. It was just crazy.
“My sister was paying me out at one point, because I brought this good steak for dinner and she reminded me that I used to try and save as much as possible at the supermarket. I would see whatever was special and work with that. That’s all I could afford.
“I definitely look back and I’m really proud that I just got through something like that. There were times when I thought (it would be better to) just coach rather than play. It was lucky that I started going OK in Australia and it went from there.”
The extremely hardworking Polmans, meanwhile, had to be thrifty in order to finance a career in which he has travelled to far-flung places around the globe to make a dollar.
During an extended training block leading into the 2020 season, the Victorian would bring a packed lunch to the Melbourne Park every day in a bid to save enough cash to travel.
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The 28-year-old, who peaked at 118 in singles in 2020 but is ranked just inside the top 400 at the moment, is due some good fortune after a bad break went against him in 2023.
Polite and even-tempered, Polmans rarely lets his emotions show but a flash of red mist got the better of him in the final round of qualifying for the Shanghai Masters in 2023.
Holding a match point, he missed a volley and lashed at the ball in frustration, only for it to strike the umpire, which resulted in an immediate suspension and the loss of prize money and ranking points.
He was extremely remorseful and the umpire accepted his apology, mindful that it was completely accidental, but the incident dented his confidence for an extended period.
By virtue of their run to the decider, which included overcoming a significant deficit against former AO doubles champions Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round, the prize money boost will enable both to finance their travel this year.
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A strong start here also gives the pair something to consider for the season ahead, with the potential to consider a crack at playing together more regularly with a view to all the majors.
“Mate, I’m pretty pumped to be in the final. I mean, we had a very close first-round match, being down 4-1 against the Special Ks in the third. We didn’t expect to go this far,” he said.
“So me and Jason are just enjoying the roller-coaster ride we’re on at the moment. I’m really enjoying playing with Jason and to be here still at the AO. I lost earlier in the qualifying in the singles, so it’s nice to be extending my stay here in the AO.”
Polmans and Kubler are seeking to become the second Aussie combination to clinch a home grand slam title after the successful championship defence of John Peers and Olivia Gadecki in the mixed.
To suggest that the hard-fought 4-6 6-3 (10-8) triumph over French pair Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard was well received in Australian quarters would be an understatement and not solely because it was a home success.
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Mladenovic was a thorn when France defeated Australia in a final of the Billie Jean King Cup in 2019 and is renowned for being a spicy competitor, which sweetened the result for the Aussies.
“(It feels) just as good as last year, if not better, I would say. It’s pretty incredible to be back-to-back grand slam winners,” Gadecki said.
“Even saying that out loud is crazy, and I’m still trying to kind of comprehend it, but it’s so nice to get it at home in front of friends and family. To share this moment with Peersy is pretty incredible. (We’re) just soaking it all up.”
WOMEN’S FINAL PREVIEW (via AFP)
Fire meets fire when hard-hitting Aryna Sabalenka clashes with big-serving Elena Rybakina in the women’s Australian Open final on Saturday.
The showdown pits two players who are on rampaging form and yet to drop a set in Melbourne in the past fortnight.
They know each other very well, having met 14 times previously, and it is a rematch of the 2023 title decider at Rod Laver Arena.
The Belarusian Sabalenka prevailed on that occasion, fighting back from a set down to win her first Grand Slam crown.
The world number one won it again in 2024, but was denied a hat-trick last year when she was stunned in the final by the American Madison Keys.
The meeting with the Kazakh Rybakina will be her fourth Melbourne final in a row, and she is expecting an almighty tussle.
“Her shots are heavy, deep, flat balls. It’s not easy to work with, but we have a great history,” said the 27-year-old, who defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals.
“She’s an incredible player,” she added of the Moscow-born Rybakina, whose only major title so far is Wimbledon in 2022.
“We had a lot of great battles, a lot of finals we played.
“I’m looking forward to battling this power,” the top seed added with a smile.
Sabalenka goes into the final in scintillating form, having won all of her 11 matches in 2026 without dropping a set.
She lifted the Brisbane title before coming to Melbourne and is also the reigning US Open champion, underlining her prowess on hard courts.
After being well beaten on Thursday, Svitolina said that Sabalenka was “on fire”.
“She feels very comfortable here on these courts,” she added.
“Of course she won here a couple of times, so I think she has this confidence playing here.”
Sabalenka will be favourite, but recent history actually favours the 26-year-old Rybakina.
While Sabalenka leads their head-to-head record 8-6, Rybakina won the last time they met, in the decider at the WTA Finals in November in Saudi Arabia, in straight sets.
Rybakina is also on a terrific run of form of her own.
She lost in the quarter-finals in Brisbane, but that is her only defeat in 14 matches.
She has been quietly impressive in Melbourne, her victims including world number two Iga Swiatek and world number six Jessica Pegula.
Pegula gave an insight into what it is like facing the Kazakh, who she labelled “cool as a cucumber”.
“She’s always just tough. You know, she’s so chill. She doesn’t really give you anything,” said the American after going down 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) in the semi-finals.
“You’re not really sure if she’s upset or if she’s excited or what it is. “I think in today’s game that goes a long way.”
And then there’s Rybakina’s serve, the biggest in women’s tennis. She has sent down 41 aces at the tournament, easily more than anyone else in the women’s draw.
Reflecting on their 2023 Australian final, Rybakina said both she and Sabalenka had improved and changed as players since.
But one thing remains the same — their power.
“Since we are both very aggressive players, serve is important,” said Rybakina.
She added: “Hopefully the serve is going to help me on Saturday, but even if it’s not, I’m going to still try to find my way.
“(I will) fight till the end, and hopefully this time it’s going to go my way.”
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 14 ORDER OF PLAY
Women’s Singles Final, Men’s Doubles Final and Women’s Doubles Final
Rod Laver Arena
Day session from 12pm
[7] Anna Danilina/Aleksandra Krunić (KAZ/SRB) vs [4] Zhang Shuai/Elise Mertens (CHN/BEL)
From 2:30pm
Jason Kubler/Marc Polmans (AUS) vs [6] Christian Harrison/Neal Skupski (USA/UK)
Night session from 7:30pm
[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [5] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
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