Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis final, beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne
Elena Rybakina produced a crashing display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Saturday and capture a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago. Rybakina returned to the site of her heartbreak in 2023 to complete an impressive victory and earn her second major trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura. The 26-year-old Kazakh capped fortnight of relentless efficiency while largely flying under the radar, adding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a resume that also includes the 2025 WTA Finals crown, where she downed Sabalenka. “It’s hard to find words now but I want to congratulate Aryna for her amazing results in the last couple of years. I hope we’re going to play.
