Elena Rybakina claimed a dramatic victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday, securing her second Grand Slam title with a hard-fought win at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 26-year-old Kazakh triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted 2 hours 18 minutes, avenging her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 final and adding to her 2022 Wimbledon championship success.
Rybakina’s powerful serve and calm under pressure helped her take the first set after an early break, even as Sabalenka pushed back fiercely. The second set saw the Belarusian fight hard to level the match, saving key points and capitalising on opportunities to force a deciding set.
Despite a strong challenge from Sabalenka, Rybakina regained her rhythm in the final set and secured the title with a decisive ace, celebrating a big moment on tennis’s biggest stage.
This loss continued Sabalenka’s tough run in Melbourne finals. Although she had won the US Open twice, she has now fallen short in several major deciders, including at the French Open and in four consecutive Australian Open finals, ending the match visibly emotional.
The roof was closed due to drizzle, but the intensity inside the stadium was high as both players demonstrated resilience and elite shot-making throughout.
Rybakina’s road to the final included impressive wins over top seeds, including second seed Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals and sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the semis, highlighting her strong form this season.
She had also beaten Sabalenka in the deciding match at the WTA Finals, showing her growing confidence against elite competition. Previously born in Russia, Rybakina switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 as a 19-year-old, a move she said was driven by greater support opportunities.
