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Elena Rybakina claimed the Australian Open crown by defeating the world’s top player, Aryna Sabalenka, with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday. This victory served as sweet revenge for her defeat in the 2023 final at the same venue.
In that past encounter, Rybakina had initially taken the lead by securing the first set, only to falter in three. This year, she began strongly with a break in the opening game, clinching the first set. Although she stumbled in the second set and trailed 3-0 in the decisive third set, she mounted an impressive comeback.
Rybakina won five consecutive games and sealed her triumph with a powerful ace on her inaugural championship point.
This victory marked Rybakina’s second Grand Slam title. She previously captured the Wimbledon trophy in 2022 and had entered the final four years ago as the sole major champion among the contenders.
During the interim, Sabalenka added three more Grand Slam titles to her collection, including consecutive wins in Australia and victories at the US Open in both 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Rybakina’s performance waned, and she did not reach another major final until this year’s tournament.
A win over Sabalenka at the season-ending WTA Finals last November has changed her career trajectory.
Rybakina went on the attack from the start and her serve was strong, with six aces and — apart from the two breaks at the end of the second set and the start of the third — she fended off six of the breakpoint chances she faced.
While Sabalenka’s grunts and roars intensified and her effusive “let’s go” self-encouragement increased in regularity as the match wore on, Rybakina maintained a quiet, almost serene, composure.
In the end, she let her serve and her returns do the talking.
The pair hugged at the net. Rybakina clapped her left hand on the strings of her racket and held her arm up to the crowd triumphantly.