Elena Rybakina beat world number one Sabalenka in a close three-set match to win her first Australian Open title and her second Grand Slam overall.
Elena mounted a turnaround pressure in the deciding set and clinched the championship with an ace on her first championship point after going 3-0 down in the third set.
The 2026 final was a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final (which Sabalenka won).
Both players had reached the final without dropping a set in the tournament which is a rare feat in any grand slam tournament.
The victory marked a historic milestone in her career. It was her first Australian Open title and added another Grand Slam to her résumé, further cementing her status among the very best players in women’s tennis.
The win also underlined her consistency at the highest level, especially on hard courts, where her serve and flat groundstrokes are most effective.
Sabalenka, despite the defeat, can take positives from her campaign as she was not pushed over in every game in the. competition.
The world No. 1 once again demonstrated why she is such a dominant force in Melbourne, reaching another final and pushing the match to the limit. Her fighting spirit and ability to respond after dropping sets highlighted her champion mentality, even though the title ultimately slipped away.