Elena Rybakina produced a remarkable comeback to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka and claim her first Australian Open crown, fighting back in a dramatic three-set final to seal a 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory in Melbourne, Trybal News reports.
The Kazakh fifth seed appeared on the brink of another Grand Slam final disappointment when she fell 3-0 behind in the deciding set, with Sabalenka firmly in control and closing in on what would have been her fifth major singles title. Sabalenka had already turned the match in her favour by breaking Rybakina late in the second set and striking again early in the third, using her trademark power to dictate proceedings.
However, Elena Rybakina showed outstanding resilience and composure, reeling off five consecutive games to completely swing the momentum. Sabalenka began to tighten under pressure, committing a series of unforced errors that allowed Rybakina to break serve again and move ahead at a crucial stage of the match.
Elena Rybakina maintained her nerve as she served for the championship, finishing the contest with an ace to secure her second Grand Slam title following her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. The victory also served as revenge for her defeat to two-time champion Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.
The match was a high-quality contest between two of the most powerful hitters on the WTA Tour, with Rybakina neutralising Sabalenka’s aggression through precise ball-striking, a strong serve and calm execution in key moments. Her ability to dig deep in the final set proved decisive.
For Sabalenka, the loss marked her third defeat in the past four Grand Slam finals, following disappointments at last year’s Australian Open and French Open. Despite having spent 75 weeks as world number one and reaching seven consecutive major finals on hard courts, the Belarusian was once again denied at the final hurdle, cutting a dejected figure as she reflected on another missed opportunity.
Rybakina’s triumph capped an outstanding tournament run that included victories over world number two Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula. She has now won 10 consecutive matches against top-10 opponents and becomes the first player since Naomi Osaka in 2019 to win the Australian Open by defeating three top-10 players from the quarter-finals onward.
The 26-year-old continues to underline her status as the form player on the women’s tour, having recorded more wins than any other player since the end of last year’s Wimbledon and suffering just one defeat in her past 21 matches.
