Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will clash in the Australian Open 2026 women's singles final on Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena, a rematch of their 2023 decider won by Sabalenka. Both players have reached the final without dropping a set, showcasing dominant serves and baseline power throughout the tournament. Sabalenka seeks a third Melbourne title, while Rybakina aims for her second Grand Slam crown.
The Australian Open women's final pits world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against No. 5 Elena Rybakina in a highly anticipated rematch. Three years ago, in the 2023 final, Rybakina took the first set 6-4 but fell 6-3, 6-4 as Sabalenka claimed her first major title. Since then, Sabalenka has added three more Grand Slams, including back-to-back Australian Open wins in 2023 and 2024, and US Open titles in 2024 and 2025. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has not reached another major final but enters with momentum, having won the 2025 WTA Finals against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion, has been flawless in Melbourne, winning 26 of her last 27 matches there. Her path included a 6-2, 6-3 semifinal victory over Elina Svitolina, where she overcame an early hindrance call for grunting that briefly disrupted play. "I was more aggressive," Sabalenka said of the incident, which fueled her performance. She has not dropped a set this tournament, relying on her powerful serve and improved forehand with added topspin, as noted by analyst Sam Smith.
Rybakina, the fifth seed, has matched Sabalenka's efficiency, also undefeated in sets en route to the final—the first such occurrence since 2004. She defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and survived a tense 6-3, 7-6(9) semifinal against Jessica Pegula, saving two set points in the tiebreak. "Hopefully all the experience I got from the last final... I can bring it to Saturday's match," Rybakina said, emphasizing the importance of their aggressive styles and serves.
Their head-to-head stands at 8-6 for Sabalenka, with eight of 14 meetings going to three sets. Recent 2025 encounters were split: Sabalenka won in Berlin and Wuhan, Rybakina in Cincinnati and the WTA Finals. Both players, standing 6 feet tall, excel in shortening points on the fast hard courts, making returns and early pressure key. A Sabalenka win would tie her with Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova at five majors; for Rybakina, it would affirm her big-match prowess amid geopolitical undertones due to their Belarusian and Russian-born backgrounds.
This matchup promises a blockbuster, with Sabalenka favored but Rybakina's recent form suggesting a close battle.
