Fifth seed Elena Rybakina captured her second Grand Slam title with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 triumph over top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final. The Kazakhstani sealed victory with an ace on her first match point!
Despite landing just 48% of her first serves in the opening set, Rybakina became the first player to take a set off Sabalenka in the 2026 season. The Belarusian, who reached this Australian Open final after lifting the Brisbane International title, appeared slightly unsettled early on and was broken in the opening game. Rybakina capitalized on the momentum, saving both break points and getting one set away from her second Grand Slam title.
However, the world number one was not letting go. Even as Rybakina raised her first-serve percentage to 65%, Sabalenka edged the second set, securing the only break of the set at love in the tenth game to level the match.
Sabalenka struck early in the third set, breaking for a 2-0 lead before saving a break point to consolidate and move ahead 3-0 in 20 minutes. Just when it seemed Sabalenka had full control of the third set, Rybakina snapped her opponent’s five-game streak, rattling off five games in a row to take a commanding 5–3 lead. Serving for the championship, Rybakina remained composed and sealed the victory with an ace on her first match point.
Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, has now lost a final at Melbourne for the second season in a row—falling to Madison Keys last year and to Rybakina this year. Rybakina, who claimed her first major at Wimbledon in 2022, has now avenged her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.
As usual, Rybakina celebrated in her signature modest, calm style, as if she had just won a WTA 125 event. Sabalenka, meanwhile, briefly covered her face with a towel but appeared composed.
Rybakina’s winning outfit featured the Yonex Melbourne Dress, paired with Yonex PC Eclipsion 5 shoes customized with her name. The champion’s racquet is Yonex VCORE 100 8th Gen.
