Elena Rybakina won against Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday | sky sports
Elena Rybakina claimed a thrilling women’s singles title at the 2026 Australian Open, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a gripping final at Melbourne Park on Saturday, avenging her 2023 loss to the Belarusian and adding a second Grand Slam trophy to her résumé.
The Kazakh fifth seed clinched her maiden Australian Open crown with a composed comeback in the third set after conceding an early service lead, electrifying Rod Laver Arena before an enthusiastic crowd.
Rybakina’s victory marks her second major title her first came at Wimbledon in 2022 and underscores her rise as one of the premier players on the WTA Tour.
Despite Sabalenka’s status as the world number one and a two time Australian Open champion, Rybakina maintained control at key moments, particularly in the decisive final set where she rallied from a 3-0 deficit to claim five of the last six games.
The 2026 final was a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open championship, where Sabalenka emerged victorious in three sets a result Rybakina reversed this time in a hard fought battle.
Rybakina grabbed an early advantage by breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the first game and sustained that edge to take the opening set 6-4. Sabalenka responded in the second set by raising her aggressive baseline game to force a level 1-1, 6-4.
As the final set unfolded, Sabalenka surged ahead, looking poised for a third-set victory with a 3-0 lead. But Rybakina displayed resilience and tactical poise, breaking back twice and dominating the latter stages to secure the championship.
Rybakina’s triumph not only ends Sabalenka’s bid for a third Australian Open title but also reasserts her own presence at the highest level of the sport. Her victory follows a season ending win last year at the WTA Finals, signalling sustained elite performance against top competition.
The Kazakh star’s run in Melbourne included victories over multiple top 10 opponents, a testament to her consistency and power hitting prowess throughout the fortnight.
Sabalenka, who has now reached four consecutive Australian Open finals, fought tenaciously throughout the match but ultimately could not contain Rybakina’s momentum in the final set.
