Elena Rybakina has officially etched her name into the history books at Melbourne Park.
In a display of resilience and tactical brilliance, the world No. 5 triumphed over top seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a captivating Australian Open 2026 women’s singles final. With this victory, Elena Rybakina not only secured her first Australian Open title but also claimed the second Grand Slam crown of her career.
The high-stakes championship match, contested under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena, spanned just over two hours and added a thrilling new chapter to one of the most dynamic rivalries in modern tennis.
For Rybakina, this triumph represents a profound redemption arc. Three years after a heartbreaking loss to Sabalenka on this very stage in the 2023 final, the Kazakh star returned with renewed determination to reverse the narrative.
In doing so, she shattered national records, becoming the first player representing Kazakhstan to lift the prestigious Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
A Commanding Start
Elena Rybakina immediately asserted her dominance, breaking Aryna Sabalenka early in the opening set. Her authoritative serving and clinical ball-striking kept the world No. 1 on the defensive.
Even when faced with pressure, the fifth seed remained unflappable, saving crucial break points with precision wide serves and punishing flat groundstrokes to secure the first set 6-4.
However, Aryna Sabalenka—competing in her fourth consecutive Australian Open final—demonstrated the tenacity of a champion.
Elevating her intensity in the second set, she found greater depth on her returns and aggressively stepped inside the baseline to control the rallies.
A decisive late break allowed Aryna Sabalenka to level the match at one set apiece, maintaining her remarkable record of forcing deciders on the Grand Slam stage.
A dramatic turn in the decider
The final set unfolded with electrifying momentum shifts. Aryna Sabalenka initially surged to a commanding 3-0 lead, feeding off the electric atmosphere and appearing poised to retain her dominance.
Yet, in a testament to her mental fortitude, Rybakina refused to crumble. She clawed her way back, utilizing fearless returns to break back and holding firm in high-pressure rallies to equalize the score.
The pivotal moment arrived at 3-3. Rybakina aggressively targeted Sabalenka’s second serve to secure a critical break, shifting the momentum firmly in her favor.
Serving for the championship, she displayed nerves of steel, sealing the historic victory with an emphatic ace that brought the crowd to its feet.
Cementing a Legacy
This landmark victory places Rybakina in an elite echelon of tennis history. By adding the Australian Open title to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph, she joins a select group of players in the Open Era to win their first two majors on grass and hard courts—a testament to her versatility.
The win capped a near-flawless campaign through the 2026 tournament, where she remained unbeaten in sets until the final match.
In the aftermath, Rybakina acknowledged the sheer intensity of the battle and the high level of her opponent, while a gracious Sabalenka praised Rybakina’s superior performance on the night.
Saturday’s final was the 15th encounter between these two powerhouses, solidifying their status as the premier rivalry in women’s tennis.
With contrasting styles defined by explosive serving and aggressive first-strike tennis, their matches consistently deliver spectacle.
As the curtains closed on another edition of the Australian Open 2026, Rybakina stood tall, having not just won a trophy, but rewritten the ending of her own Australian Open story.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
