Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win Australian Open title
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Elena Rybakina stunned top women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday to win her first Australian Open and second Grand Slam title, redeeming her previous defeat against Sabalenka in 2023.
26-year-old Rybakina defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, with a score of 3-0 in the third set, and won her second title since her first title at Wimbledon in 2022.
Elena Rybakina backhands Aryna Sabalenka during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships on January 31, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Speaking to the media after the match, Rybakina said: “This is an incredible achievement, I am very happy and proud.” “It was a really tough fight and I didn’t expect to turn it around… Aryna is a very tough opponent but I’m really happy to keep the trophy this time.”
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Rybakina had a chance against Sabalenka in 2023, but this would be Sabalenka’s first back-to-back Australian Open title.
“I was close to it last time, but I didn’t play that well,” Rybakina recalled. “Even today, I knew that if I had a chance to be in the lead, I had to try some risky shots and go for it.”
This was a heavy defeat for Sabalenka, who lost to American tennis star Madison Keys in the Australian Open final last year.
Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her match against Elena Rybakina in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships on January 31, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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“Of course I have regrets. When you led 3-Love and then within a few seconds it felt like it was 3-4 and I took a break and fell behind – it was too fast,” Sabalenka said. “Great tennis from him. Maybe not so smart for me.
]”But like I said, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner. I hope I’m more of a winner than a loser this season. Now I’m hoping and praying.”
Saturday’s win moved Rybakina into 3rd place.
Elena Rybakina holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup aloft after defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships on January 31, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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