Elena Rybakina exacted revenge on world number one Aryna Sabalenka to claim a thrilling Australian Open title on Saturday, securing her second Grand Slam crown.
The big-serving Kazakh fifth seed held her nerve in a gripping final at Rod Laver Arena, edging Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes.
The victory avenged Rybakina’s loss to the Belarusian in the 2023 final, a rematch between two of the most powerful hitters in women’s tennis.
Ice-cool throughout, the 26-year-old Moscow-born Rybakina added the Melbourne trophy to her Wimbledon triumph in 2022.
For Sabalenka, it was another bitter setback in a major final. Despite lifting the US Open title last year for the second time, she has now fallen short in the French Open and Australian Open deciders. Competing in her fourth consecutive Melbourne final, the top seed had been imperious throughout the tournament but was left in tears at the conclusion.
With the roof closed due to drizzle, Rybakina made a fast start, breaking immediately and holding comfortably for a 2-0 lead. She weathered pressure at 4-3, saving two break points with a timely ace to frustrate Sabalenka before sealing the opening set in 37 minutes when her opponent sent a forehand long.
Remarkably, it was the first set Sabalenka had dropped in the 2026 tournament.
The second set was fiercely contested. Rybakina saved three break points in a 10-minute second game, and both players traded holds in a tense arm-wrestle. Sabalenka eventually struck, forging three set points at 5-4 and converting the first to level the match.
Carrying that momentum into the decider, Sabalenka broke early and surged to a 3-0 lead as Rybakina appeared briefly unsettled. But the Kazakh reset, holding serve before clawing back the break to draw level at 3-3, allowing herself the faintest smile.
With the title finely balanced, Rybakina surged again, breaking for 4-3 and then holding firm to move within touching distance. She sealed the championship with her sixth ace of the match.
The final marked the 15th meeting between the pair, with Sabalenka holding an 8–7 edge overall. Although the top seed entered as favourite, Rybakina has been among the tour’s form players in recent months, having also defeated Sabalenka in the final of the season-ending WTA Finals.
Her Melbourne run included victories over second seed Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals and sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
Rybakina switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 at the age of 19, citing financial reasons, and has since developed into one of the most formidable forces in women’s tennis.
AFP
