In a thrilling rematch of the 2023 final, Elena Rybakina overcame world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open title on January 31, 2026, at Rod Laver Arena.
The match, lasting 2 hours and 18 minutes, showcased the power-hitting prowess of both players, with Rybakina’s serve proving pivotal. She fired down an ace on match point to seal the victory, avenging her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.
“I always believed that I can come back to the level I was,” Rybakina said in her post-match interview, reflecting on her journey back to the top after a period of inconsistency.
Rybakina entered the tournament in red-hot form, carrying momentum from her undefeated run at the 2025 WTA Finals, where she defeated Sabalenka in the final. Her path to the title included straight-set victories over Kaja Juvan, Varvara Gracheva, Karolina Valentova, Elise Mertens, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula, dropping no sets until the final.
Notably, she ended each of those matches with a winner, including aces against Swiatek and backhand return winners against Pegula.
The final began with Rybakina asserting dominance in the first set, breaking Sabalenka early and holding serve comfortably to take it 6-4. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, fought back fiercely in the second, leveling the match at one set apiece. The Belarusian then surged to a 3-0 lead in the third, capitalizing on Rybakina’s momentary dip. But the 26-year-old Rybakina, known for her calm demeanor, reeled off five straight games to turn the tide. “She basically capitulated,” noted analysts, highlighting Sabalenka’s frustration as opportunities slipped away.
Sabalenka, who had won 19 of her last 20 matches in Melbourne prior to this loss, expressed disappointment post-match: “I’m really upset with myself because once again I had opportunities.”
Despite the defeat, her performance solidified her status as one of the game’s elites, though questions arose about her Slam finals record.
Rybakina’s victory extends her impressive streak, having won 19 of her last 20 matches since late 2025, including nine consecutive wins against top-10 players.
This triumph not only cements her as a multiple Grand Slam champion but also proves she’s no “one-hit wonder,” as some had labeled her after Wimbledon.
“A consistent and composed Elena Rybakina claims her maiden Australian Open title,” summarized one report, emphasising her ability to stay cool under pressure.
With this win, Rybakina becomes the first Kazakhstani to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and joins an elite group of players who have won majors on grass and hard courts. The result shakes up the women’s rankings, with Rybakina poised to rise, while Sabalenka’s reign at No. 1 continues but under renewed threat.
As the tennis world looks ahead to the clay-court season, Rybakina’s Melbourne masterclass serves as a reminder of her potential to dominate. “If anyone can take down Sabalenka, it’s Rybakina,” previewed experts before the final – and she delivered.
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