Rybakina outlasts Sabalenka in three sets to capture first Australian Open title

Gutsy, gritty, unflappable.

How about 2026 Australian Open champion? Multi-time Grand Slam winner? New World No. 3?

Those are just a few of the things you can call Elena Rybakina after she outlasted World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 18 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to claim her second Major title and her first since Wimbledon in 2022.

“It’s hard to find words now,” Rybakina said during the trophy presentation. “But of course, I want to congratulate Aryna (for) amazing results (the last) couple of years. And I know it’s tough (now), but I just hope that we’re going to play many more finals together.”

By lifting the trophy Sunday night, she avenged her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final, where she won the opening set before falling in three sets. There was no such letdown this time, as the 26-year-old rallied from 3-0 down in the decider to capture her first Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, exorcizing any lingering demons from that devastating defeat three years ago.

She did so by leaning on the tools that have carried her to this point.

Rybakina hasn’t earned the “Ace Queen” moniker for nothing, and those reasons were on display in the final. Despite a modest six aces by her standards, she picked her spots wisely.

None was bigger than the one she struck in the third set while trailing 3-0. With her coaching box calling her out, saying “there is no energy,” she responded immediately. She began bouncing on her toes and shaking herself loose, but most importantly, she fired an ace on the very next point to set up a hold for 3-1.

After Sabalenka had won five straight games spanning the second and third sets, that moment sparked Rybakina’s own run, as she rattled off five games in a row to move within one of the title.

Sabalenka held for 5-4, but on championship point, Rybakina again turned to her biggest weapon, delivering another ace to seal the victory. It was the culmination of a champion’s effort from Rybakina, who, along with Sabalenka, treated the fans in the stands and those watching at home to another instant classic in a rivalry full of them.

The match finished in a dead heat in nearly every category except the scoreline, with both players winning exactly 92 points.

But as is the cruel reality of tennis, Rybakina’s 92 meant more on this night, giving her not only her second Grand Slam title, but the 12th title of her career. Included among them are two Major titles, a WTA Finals trophy and two WTA 1000 titles.

With her Australian Open win, she improves to 2-1 in Major finals and joins Caroline Wozniacki as the only players in the last decade to win the WTA Finals and follow it up by winning the women’s singles title at the Australian Open the next year.

She’ll also reclaim her career-high ranking of No. 3 on Monday, doing so on the back of a 9-1 start to the year -- part of a 20-1 stretch dating back to last season. She improves to 7-8 against Sabalenka at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz level.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, falls to 4-4 in Grand Slam finals but retains the No. 1 ranking by more than 3,000 points as the calendar turns to February. She has spent 75 weeks at No. 1 in her career, 11th most in WTA history.

She ends her Australian swing with a Brisbane title and a near-perfect 11-1 record, dropping only the one set to Rybakina.

Suffice it to say, it was all a bit bittersweet.

“I love being here, I love playing in front of you all,” Sabalenka said during the trophy presentation. “You guys are incredible support. I’m always looking forward to coming and playing in front of you, and well, let’s hope maybe next year is going to be a better year for me.”