Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis last, beating world primary Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.
Revealed On 31 Jan 2026
Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous show to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Saturday and seize a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world primary of their Melbourne Park last rematch from three years in the past.
Rybakina returned to the location of her heartbreak in 2023 to finish a powerful victory and earn her second main trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials because the participant finest geared up to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura.
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The 26-year-old Kazakh capped a fortnight of relentless effectivity whereas largely flying below the radar, including the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a resume that additionally consists of the 2025 WTA Finals crown, the place she downed Sabalenka.
“It’s exhausting to seek out phrases now however I need to congratulate Aryna for her wonderful leads to the final couple of years. I hope we’re going to play many extra finals collectively,” Rybakina mentioned.
“I need to say thanks to you guys (followers). Thanks a lot to Kazakhstan. I felt the assist from that nook rather a lot. It’s actually a Glad Slam and I at all times get pleasure from coming right here and taking part in in entrance of you guys.”
Within the first Grand Slam last since 2008 that includes gamers but to drop a set, it was prime seed Sabalenka who blinked first below the Rod Laver Enviornment roof as Rybakina got here out all weapons blazing to interrupt in the opening recreation and wrest management.
The fifth seed’s enormous ball-striking precipitated all types of issues for twice champion Sabalenka, as she comfortably received to set level within the tenth recreation and completed it off to ship alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.
Having arrived with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match wins from the final 48, four-time main winner Sabalenka discovered her groove and began the second set extra positively, however Rybakina saved three breakpoints to carry for 1-1.
A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the prospect to degree at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to show the ultimate set right into a shootout destined to be determined by whichever participant held their nerves.
Having overwhelmed Rybakina from an identical scenario within the 2023 title conflict, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go forward 3-0, however the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 earlier than securing victory so as to add to her All England membership triumph.
The knockout blow was an enormous ace, after which the sometimes restrained Rybakina walked ahead, smiled and pumped her fist earlier than celebrating along with her staff.
Sabalenka, denied an Australian Open “three-peat” by American outsider Madison Keys in final yr’s last, endured heartbreak once more as she retreated to her chair and draped a white towel over her head to hide her anguish.
“I’m actually speechless proper now,” she mentioned, earlier than turning to her victorious opponent and the followers.
“I need to congratulate you on an unimaginable run and unimaginable tennis. Such an unimaginable achievement. I like being right here, love taking part in in entrance of you all. You guys are unimaginable assist. Let’s hope subsequent yr goes to be a greater yr.”
