The Insider Wrap is a recap of everything you need to know from the week (or two) that was. The first Grand Slam tournament of 2023 is in the books, with Aryna Sabalenka taking charge Down Under, Elena Rybakina almost backing up her Wimbledon run and Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova sweeping another Slam.
Performance of the Week: Aryna Sabalenka
Twelve months ago in Australia, Sabalenka’s narrative was overtaken by a struggle with double faults. Even though that situation steadily improved as the season went on, she still finished 2022 without a title.
But things were already on the upswing for Sabalenka coming into this year’s first Grand Slam event. In the first week of 2023, she swept to the Adelaide International 1 title without losing a set, putting her on the shortlist of Australian Open title contenders.
If Sabalenka had pressure to live up to a position as one of the favorites, she rarely showed it along the way to her first Grand Slam title. The No.5 seed did not drop until the final, then held off Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Rankings Watch: Rybakina makes Top 10 debut, Sabalenka returns to No.2
“I became calmer on the court and I started to respect myself a little bit more,” Sabalenka told WTA Insider after her major victory. “I have belief more in myself because of the last year. I think that really helped me. Because of that belief, I am a Grand Slam champion, which sounds really crazy.”
Honor Roll
Elena Rybakina: After serving her way to the 2022 Wimbledon title, eyes were on Rybakina to see when her next big showing at a major would come. As it turned out, the wait was brief.
Set for a Top 10 debut, Rybakina confident the best is to come
Rybakina charged into her second Grand Slam final just half a year later, and though she fell one win short this time, she was rewarded with her Top 10 debut.
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova: The dominant Czech pair extended their winning streak at major events to 24 straight victories after collecting their seventh Grand Slam title as a team in Melbourne.
Champions Corner: Krejcikova, Siniakova get back to basics
Krejcikova and Siniakova have not lost a match at a major since the 2021 US Open. They won all three of the Grand Slam events they played last year (the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open) before successfully defending their title this week.
Magda Linette: After World No.1 Iga Swiatek (and ATP World No.10 Hubert Hurkacz) lost…