Elena Rybakina finally found her moment of redemption, exacting sweet revenge on Aryna Sabalenka to claim her maiden Australian Open title. Three years ago, on the same courts at Melbourne Park, Rybakina had watched her dream slip away as Sabalenka stormed back from a set down to break her heart. On Saturday night, fate offered a familiar script — but this time, Rybakina refused to be a spectator to her own pain.
The final unfolded with eerie similarity. Sabalenka steadied herself after a shaky opening set and clawed her way back, threatening to turn the contest on its head once more. When she surged to a 3–0 lead in the deciding set, the weight of history felt suffocating, and the crowd sensed another cruel repeat of 2023. But Rybakina had other plans. Summoning extraordinary courage and composure, she mounted a fearless comeback, playing with resolve born from past scars.
After two hours and 18 minutes of nerve-shredding tennis, Rybakina prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena. Known for her devastating serve, she struck 47 aces during the tournament and fittingly sealed the championship with one final ace, before celebrating in disbelief and joy.
For Sabalenka, it was another crushing Australian Open final defeat, following last year’s loss to Madison Keys. For Rybakina, it was vindication — her second Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022, and the sweetest victory of her career.
RYBAKINA'S EARLY PRESSURE ON SABALENKA
Rybakina delivered a commanding statement in the opening set against Sabalenka, setting the tone with relentless aggression and composure. The Kazakh couldn’t have asked for a better start, breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the very first game as the top seed’s familiar early-match jitters resurfaced. That immediate breakthrough allowed Rybakina to dictate terms, particularly off her forehand wing, where the pace and depth of her shots repeatedly rushed Sabalenka at the baseline.
From the outset, Rybakina played with controlled violence, taking the ball early and stepping inside the court to apply sustained pressure. Her flat, powerful forehands pushed Sabalenka from side to side, forcing defensive slices and hurried recoveries. Although Sabalenka briefly steadied herself by holding serve in the third game, Rybakina maintained her intensity, holding comfortably to move 3-1 ahead as the Belarusian cut a visibly frustrated figure.
The crowd tried to lift Sabalenka, especially when she earned two break points at 4-3, but Rybakina showed impressive composure to fend them off. While she struck two fewer aces than Sabalenka, Rybakina excelled in other areas. She edged her opponent on both first- and second-serve points, using smart placement and disguise to blunt Sabalenka’s returns.
What began as forehand dominance gradually evolved into a serving masterclass. After 37 minutes, Rybakina closed out the set, mirroring the strong start she made against Sabalenka in their Australian Open final meeting three years earlier. Sabalenka, chasing a third Melbourne title, was left searching for answers against Rybakina’s pace, precision and poise.
SABALENKA BOUNCES BACK
Aryna Sabalenka scripted a stupendous comeback in the second set, responding emphatically after dropping the opener against Elena Rybakina. The set began on a steady note for the world No.1, who held serve comfortably and looked far more settled than she had earlier. The turning point nearly arrived in the second game, when Sabalenka created three break points during a marathon service game that went to six deuces. However, much like the first set, she was left frustrated as Rybakina escaped, holding serve through sheer resilience.
What truly changed was Sabalenka’s serving. The Belarusian raised her level dramatically, winning an extraordinary 95 per cent of points on her first serve and rushing through her service games with authority. The added kick on her second serve also proved crucial, denying Rybakina the chance to step in and dictate rallies early. In contrast, Rybakina’s first serve deserted her at key moments, an uncharacteristic dip that gradually tilted the balance.
Although Sabalenka could not find an early break, the pressure she applied was relentless. Every return game forced Rybakina to hit extra balls, leading to errors under mounting strain. That pressure finally told in the 10th game, when Rybakina served to stay in the set. Sabalenka pounced, winning four points on the trot to secure her first break of the match—and the set.
RYBAKINA HAS THE LAST LAUGH
Sabalenka began the third set exactly where she had left off in the second, imposing herself with authority. She held serve comfortably before breaking Elena Rybakina once again to surge into a 2–0 lead in the decider. In the third game, Sabalenka faced a brief scare when she went down break point, but her raw power and aggression bailed her out as she held to stretch the lead to 3–0, appearing firmly in control of the final.
At that moment, Sabalenka looked to be at the peak of her powers, dictating play and pushing Rybakina further onto the back foot. But Rybakina was far from finished. Refusing to surrender, she steadied herself to hold serve for 3–1, a game that proved to be the turning point. Playing with renewed belief, Rybakina broke Sabalenka in the very next game, clawing her way back to 3–2 and shifting the momentum.
Sabalenka had an immediate opportunity to halt the comeback when she earned a break point in the following game, but Rybakina showed remarkable composure under pressure, saving it to level the set at 3–3. From there, the match swung decisively. Having lost the first three games of the set, Rybakina found extraordinary resolve, reeling off five consecutive games with fearless shot-making and steely nerves.
As Rybakina surged ahead, Sabalenka began to unravel in the closing stages, losing her rhythm and struggling to regain control. The momentum had completely shifted, and there was no way back as Rybakina closed out the match in emphatic fashion.
