Elena Rybakina produced a stunning performance to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open final. The win gives Rybakina her first Australian Open title and her second Grand Slam trophy, after winning Wimbledon in 2022.
Rybakina returned to the place where she lost in the 2023 final and this time she came out on top, showing she can challenge Sabalenka’s dominance on hard courts. The 26-year-old has been playing consistently well throughout the tournament and also won the 2025 WTA Finals, where she again beat Sabalenka.
After the match, Rybakina said she wanted to congratulate Sabalenka and hoped they would meet in many more finals. She also thanked the fans and said she felt strong support from Kazakhstan.
The match began with Rybakina taking control early. She broke Sabalenka’s serve in the first game and went on to win the first set. Sabalenka fought back in the second set and took it 6–4, setting up a tense final set.
In the deciding set, Sabalenka took a 3-0 lead, but Rybakina fought back strongly. She broke back and then went 4-3 ahead. The final point came with a huge ace, after which Rybakina celebrated with her team.
Sabalenka, who was hoping to win her third straight Australian Open title, was visibly upset after the match. She praised Rybakina and thanked the fans, saying she hoped next year would be better.
