Melbourne – World No. 5 Elena Rybakina produced a stunning display of power, composure, and resilience to defeat top seed Aryna Sabalenka and win her first Australian Open title in a gripping three-set final on Saturday.
Playing under the closed roof at Rod Laver Arena, the Kazakh star edged past the Belarusian 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a contest that lasted two hours and 18 minutes. Rybakina sealed her second Grand Slam title, following her Wimbledon triumph in 2022, fittingly finishing the match with an ace before celebrating with a restrained fist pump.
Rybakina’s victory marked sweet revenge after her heartbreaking loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final, where the Belarusian had rallied from behind to win. This time, Rybakina’s formidable serve, clean ball-striking, and mental toughness proved decisive, especially after she fell 0-3 behind in the deciding set.
Sabalenka entered the final in dominant form, having won 26 of her previous 27 matches at Melbourne Park. The 27-year-old was chasing a historic third consecutive Australian Open crown, a feat achieved in the Open Era only by legends Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Martina Hingis.
The final lived up to its billing, with both players arriving without dropping a set. Sabalenka struck first with aggressive baseline play, but Rybakina responded with precision, variety, and timely drop shots to take the opening set.
After Sabalenka forced a decider and surged ahead early, Rybakina staged a remarkable turnaround, winning five consecutive games to wrest control. Sabalenka pushed her to the limit, but Rybakina held her nerve to serve out the match and etch her name into Australian Open history.