Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, Ozeki

Elena Rybakina

Two ladies crosses the great hurdle to Ozeki (=Champion) at the 2023 Australian Open: Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka became the 45th and 46th female Ozeki of the open era. Both will meet on Saturday in the Australian Open final (the sanyaku rank lists will be updated once the tournament has completed). 

Rybakina earned the Ozeki promotion already with her quarterfinal victory over former Ozeki Jelena Ostapenko. She went on to defeat another ex-Ozeki - Viktoria Azarenka - in the semifinals. Rybakina's run comes two slams after her surprise Wimbledon victory in 2022, which propelled her into the elite of the sport.

Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka has been close to Ozeki before, however, previously her best grand slam runs had ended in the semifinals, last at the 2022 US Open. This time she went one step further by beating surprise semifinalist Magda Linette, who has earned a first-time promotion Komusubi (=Junior Champion II).

Ozeki Iga Swiatek had been on a Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) run, but went out in the 4th round to Rybakina. She therefore goes kadoban (i.e., needs to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open to defend rank), as does fellow Ozeki Ons Jabeur.

In the men's tournament, Komusubi Karen Khachanov secured a first-time promotion to Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) by reaching back-to back grand slam seminals. He can even go one step further to Ozkei if he beats ex-Ozeki and current Komusubi Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. The other semifinal sees Dai-Yokozuna (Great Grand Champion)  Novak Djokovic face first-time semifinalist Tommy Paul, who has therefore also earned (at least) a Komusubi promotion.

Full updates will be posted once the tournament has completed.