Elena Rybakina fought back from a tough challenge by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win the women’s singles championship at the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the tennis player secured a dramatic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory after a tense battle at Rod Laver Arena.
Rybakina, seeded fifth, jumped to an early lead by breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the opening game and used powerful groundstrokes and a strong serve to close out the first set.
Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, responded fiercely in the second set, forcing a decider with a series of deep returns and aggressive play.
In the final set, Sabalenka raced to a 3-0 lead and looked poised to take control of the match, but Rybakina answered by winning five of the next seven games to turn the tide.
She held her nerve in key rallies, hit an ace on her first championship point, and completed a memorable comeback in front of a packed crowd.
The victory not only gave Rybakina her first Australian Open title but also her second Grand Slam trophy, adding to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
It marked a sweet revenge for the loss she suffered to Sabalenka in the 2023 final and highlighted her rise as one of the top players on the WTA Tour.
Rybakina’s path to the final included wins over other top-ranked players, and she became one of the few players to defeat both the world No. 1 and No. 2 on her way to an Australian Open crown.
This achievement also continued her strong form from late last season, when she captured the WTA Finals and boosted her confidence leading into the 2026 campaign.
Despite Sabalenka’s powerful hitting and strong season record, she was unable to close out the match in Melbourne, ending her bid for a third title at the event.
