Elena Rybakina finally found her moment of redemption, exacting sweet revenge on Aryna Sabalenka to claim her maiden Australian Open title.
Three years after watching her Melbourne dream unravel on the same courts, the Kazakh turned heartbreak into history with a gripping victory under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.
Back in 2023, Rybakina had been left stunned as Sabalenka clawed back from a set down to snatch the title away. On Saturday night, fate seemed intent on replaying that cruel script. Sabalenka once again rallied after losing the opener and surged into a commanding lead in the deciding set, stirring memories of past pain. This time, however, Rybakina refused to be a spectator to her own undoing.
After two hours and 18 minutes of nerve-shredding tennis, Rybakina prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, sealing the championship with a fitting final ace. She finished the tournament with 47 aces, a testament to the weapon that underpinned her run to glory.
For Sabalenka, it was another bitter 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 win of her career.
RYBAKINA’S EARLY PRESSURE ON SABALENKA
Rybakina set the tone early with a commanding opening set, breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the very first game as the world No.1’s familiar early-match nerves resurfaced. That immediate breakthrough allowed Rybakina to dictate play, particularly off her forehand wing, where her flat power and depth repeatedly rushed Sabalenka at the baseline.
Playing with controlled aggression, Rybakina stepped inside the court and took the ball early, forcing Sabalenka into defensive positions. Although Sabalenka briefly steadied herself, the pressure never relented. When the Belarusian earned two break points at 4-3, Rybakina showed impressive composure to fend them off and close out the set after 37 minutes.
SABALENKA BOUNCES BACK
Sabalenka responded emphatically in the second set, raising her level across the board. Her serving proved decisive, as she won an astonishing 95 per cent of points behind her first delivery and powered through her service games with authority. The added kick on her second serve also denied Rybakina the chance to attack early in rallies.
Although Rybakina continued to show resilience, Sabalenka’s relentless pressure finally told in the 10th game. Serving to stay in the set, Rybakina was broken for the first time in the match as Sabalenka reeled off four straight points to level the contest.
RYBAKINA HAS THE LAST LAUGH
Carrying that momentum into the decider, Sabalenka surged ahead, breaking Rybakina to race into a 3-0 lead. At that stage, history appeared poised to repeat itself. But Rybakina dug deep, steadying herself with a crucial hold before breaking back to spark a remarkable turnaround.
From 3-3, the match swung decisively. Rybakina played with fearless intent and steely composure, reeling off five consecutive games as Sabalenka’s rhythm deserted her in the closing stages. There was no stopping the momentum shift, and Rybakina calmly served out the match to complete a stirring comeback.
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