Elena Rybakina rallies, tops Aryna Sabalenka for first Australian Open title
Jan 29, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Jessica Pegula of United States in the semifinals of the womenís singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Elena Rybakina rallied from three games down in the third set to defeat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and win her first Australian Open on Saturday in Melbourne.
The contest was a rematch of the 2023 final, in which Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, again went up a set but lost the next two as Sabalenka won her first Australian Open title.
Not this time.
Rybakina, 26, won the fourth game of the third set to trail 3-1, then broke the Belarusian's serve in back-to-back games to take a 5-3 lead. Sabalenka won her next service game before Rybakina closed the match to earn her second Grand Slam title.
Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022. Sabalenka, 27, was seeking her third Australian Open title in four years.
The two-hour, 18-minute final was close statistically. Sabalenka won points on 76% of her first serves, compared to 75% for Rybakina. Both won points on 48% of their second serves.
Of the 184 total points in the match, Rybakina and Sabalenka each captured 92.
--Field Level Media
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