Rybakina subdues Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 for maiden Australian Open title

Rybakina rallies to win second grand slam title and first down under

Three years ago, in Melbourne, with a Grand Slam title on the line, they went three. Aryna Sabalenka prevailed and the following year, defended her title. She went for the hattrick in 2025 but lost her crown 5-7 in the third to Madison Keys. This was the first Aussie Open final for Elena Rybakina.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion struggled at the start of last season but finished with a flourish, winning the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where in the title match, she defeated Sabalenka in straights sets.

Rybakina achieved a career high rank of #3 in 2023, but is currently ranked and seeded fifth. Sabalenka initially reached #1 in September 2023 but has held it uninterrupted since October 2024.
Sabalenka led the head-to-head 8-6 but trailed Rybakina 5-6 on hardcourt. This was their first meeting at the Australian Open and third at a slam.

Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Leading into the championship match, the twenty-seven-year-old from Belarus had not dropped a set and defeated two seeded players- #17 Victoria Mboko and #12 Elina Svitolina.
Rybakina from Kazakhstan, and one year younger, had not dropped a set through six matches and defeated three seeded players in succession: #21, Elise Mertens, #2 Iga Swiatek, and #6 Jessica Pegula.

With the roof closed on Rod Laver arena, Sabalenka served first, and while she opened with two consecutive winners, including an ace up the tee, she faced two break points and dumped serve. Rybakina opened with an ace down the middle and held to love to consolidate the break. Sabalenka struck three winners, including her second ace on game point, while Rybakina opened with a double fault yet held easily to 15 for 3-1.

The world #1 hit her third ace and held at love for 2-3. Rybakina pummeled two consecutive backhand winners and held to 30 for 4-2 while Sabalenka opened and closed the seventh with winners, including her fourth ace.

The world #5 serving with new balls opened with an inside-out forehand winner and despite facing double break point, held with three consecutive well-placed serves, including her second ace. The two-time Australian Open champion served to stay in the set and did so with two outstanding forehand winners and a monster serve up the tee. Rybakina missed 3/6 first serves but held to 30 to secure the set following a mishit forehand from her opponent. Sabalenka left the court following the conclusion of the set.

While Sabalenka moves and defends better than Rybakina, her second serve is often a liability. The reigning US Open champion served first in the second and held to 15 with her fourth ace while Rybakina struggled. Although she struck five winners, she committed a double fault, faced six deuce and three break points, yet held to level.    

Sabalenka held easily to 15 for 2-1 despite her first double fault, while Rybakina, with her third, held to 15 for parity. Sabalenka opened the fifth with a fantastic crosscourt forehand and closed with a colossal serve down the middle, while Rybakina crushed an inside-in forehand and held to 30 for 3-3.

Sabalenka missed 4/8 first serves, including a double fault, but held for 4-3 with a formidable serve up the tee and a spectacular crosscourt forehand. Rybakina hit three consecutive winners, including two additional aces, and held to love to level.

Sabalenka made 4/5 first serves and held to 15 to lead 5-4 while Rybakina faced triple set point and conceded it after Sabalenka ripped a forehand pass down the line.

Sabalenka maintained her composure as the deciding set commenced. She served first and held easily to 15 while Rybakina missed 5/6 first serves and was broken following two extraordinary backhand winners from her opponent.

The top seed faced a break point and deuce, but with three additional winners and an unreturnable serve, consolidated the break for 3-0. It appeared the two-time Australian Open champion would run away with the set and claim her fifth Grand Slam title, but Rybakina rewrote the script.

She got on the board with her fifth ace and an unreturnable serve. Sabalenka made 4/5 first serves but was broken following two unforced errors and a massive backhand down the line from Rybakina.

The 5th seed serving with new balls missed 5/8 first serves, faced a break point and deuce, but with a monster serve out wide, consolidated the break to level at three.

Sabalenka’s frustration and agitation increased as her lead evaporated. She donated three backhand errors and dropped serve when she netted a makeable forehand. Rybakina, sensing her opponent’s desperation, heightened her intensity and focus. She made 4/6 first serves, blasted a backhand down the line, and with a huge serve down the middle, consolidated the break.

Sabalenka, serving to stay in the match, opened with two remarkable forehand winners and held easily to 15 for 4-5. Rybakina served for the title, and though she faced 30-30 following a brilliant backhand return from Sabalenka, she struck a titanic serve up the tee and an ace out wide to secure her second Grand Slam title and first in Melbourne.

It was a high-octane, closely contested grand slam final between two of the best ball-strikers on the WTA tour. Rybakina rejoiced with her team after winning her second slam in almost 3 ½ years. The twenty-six-year-old finished with six aces, three double faults, and won 76% of first and 48% of second serve points.

She was quite effective at neutralizing Sabalenka’s second serve, winning 52% of those points. She was stellar on break points, saving 6/8 while converting 3/6. While Sabalenka hit more winners (35/28), just one more error (25/24), and converted the same number of points (92), she received the runner-up trophy! It’s never how many, but which points you win.

This is a captivating rivalry that never disappoints. While Sabalenka remains firmly entrenched at the top of the sport, Rybakina will equal her career-high rank of #3 come Monday morning. What a difference a fortnight makes.