Elena Rybakina claimed her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam crown by rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the third set to beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the women's singles final. The Kazakhstani avenged her 2023 loss to Sabalenka in Melbourne, showcasing composure under pressure. This victory propels Rybakina back to No. 3 in the WTA rankings.
In a rematch of their gripping 2023 Australian Open final, Elena Rybakina turned the tables on Aryna Sabalenka at Rod Laver Arena. Rybakina, seeded fifth, broke Sabalenka in the opening game and held firm to take the first set 6-4, fending off three break points with powerful serves. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, leveled the match by breaking late in the second set for a 6-4 win, extending her run of five straight games into the decider.
Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead in the third, but Rybakina's resilience shone through. She broke back twice in quick succession, winning five of the next six games to serve for the title. Sealing the 6-4 victory with an ace, Rybakina earned A$4.15 million and 2,000 ranking points, returning to her career-high No. 3 ranking.
"It's hard to find the words, but I want to congratulate Aryna," Rybakina said during the trophy ceremony. "I hope we're going to play many more finals together." She credited her team, including coach Stefano Vukov—who received his own on-court trophy despite past controversies—for navigating a challenging 2025. Vukov's return in August coincided with Rybakina's late-season surge, including the WTA Finals win over Sabalenka.
For Sabalenka, the defeat marked her third loss in four recent Grand Slam finals, including last year's Australian Open upset. "Of course I have regrets... it was very fast," she admitted, vowing to bounce back. Both players finished with 92 points won, underscoring the match's evenness. Rybakina's composure and 47 tournament aces highlight her as a top contender for 2026, while Sabalenka retains No. 1 with a commanding lead.
