Elena Rybakina produced a calm, unflappable performance to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka and claim her first Australian Open title on 31 January 2026, sealing a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory in a gripping final at Rod Laver Arena.
The triumph completed a measure of redemption for the Kazakh, who had fallen to Sabalenka in the 2023 final after winning the opening set. This time, there was no late collapse as Rybakina held her nerve to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and secure the second Grand Slam title of her career, following her Wimbledon triumph in 2022.
The final delivered a high-quality rematch between two of the game’s most powerful hitters. Rybakina struck first, breaking early and dictating from the baseline to take the opening set 6-4 — the first set Sabalenka had dropped throughout the tournament.
Sabalenka responded with authority in the second set, showcasing why she remains the dominant force on hard courts. The Belarusian raised her aggression, tightened her service games and levelled the match with a 6-4 set of her own, threatening to tilt the momentum decisively in her favour.
The decisive third set tested both players’ resilience. Rybakina fell behind early but refused to be rattled, recovering from a 3-0 deficit with a series of measured holds and fearless returns. Her composure under pressure ultimately proved decisive as she broke serve late and calmly closed out the match in two hours and 18 minutes.
