Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a hard-fought three-set final to win the Australian Open on Saturday. The 26-year-old Rybakina, born in Moscow but representing Kazakhstan, secured a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Sabalenka, avenging her loss in the 2023 final at the same tournament.
Rybakina's win marks her second Grand Slam title, following her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. She entered the tournament as the fifth seed and maintained a strong run, including a quarterfinal victory over reigning champion Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka, who had not dropped a set en route to the final, led 3-0 in the third set before Rybakina staged a remarkable comeback, winning five consecutive games to take the match.
Rybakina's victory was characterized by her powerful serve and consistent ball-striking, which proved too much for Sabalenka. The Kazakh player acknowledged the challenge of facing such a dominant opponent but expressed satisfaction with her performance. 'I'm happy that now I'm getting back to this level and hopefully I can be stable again throughout the whole season,' Rybakina said post-match.
Sabalenka, who had won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, expressed disappointment but praised Rybakina's performance. 'She made some winners. I made a couple of unforced errors,' Sabalenka said. 'Of course, I have regrets. When you lead 3-0 and then it felt like in a few seconds it was 3-4 and I was down with a break. So it was very fast.'
The match was the first Grand Slam final since 2008 where neither player had dropped a set before the final. Rybakina's win positions her as a strong contender for the world No. 1 ranking, behind Sabalenka and Swiatek. She is expected to rise to No. 3 in the world rankings following her victory.
Rybakina's coach, Stefano Vukov, who was suspended by the WTA in 2023 for abusive conduct but had his ban overturned on appeal, was present during the final. Rybakina publicly defended Vukov and credited her team for the victory. 'Thank you to my team: without you it wouldn’t be possible,' she said on court.
The Australian Open final was a showcase of high-quality tennis, with both players delivering powerful shots and intense rallies. Rybakina's ability to handle pressure and turn the match around in the third set was a key factor in her victory. The match lasted over two hours and 40 minutes, with Rybakina sealing the win with an ace on her first championship point.