(No. 5) Elena Rybakina def. (No. 1) Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Elena Rybakina was crowned Australian Open champion in Saturday’s final, after rallying from a third-set deficit to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in 2 hours and 18 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. The world No. 3 captured her second Grand Slam title and first since Wimbledon 2022, reversing the loss she experienced in Melbourne three years ago, when she won the opening set against Sabalenka before letting the match slip away in three.

After splitting the first two sets, Sabalenka appeared to seize control of the decider, breaking Rybakina for just the second time all match and racing out to a 3–0 lead. She had won five consecutive games at the end of the second set and the start of the third, putting Rybakina under heavy pressure. But the momentum shifted quickly. With her coaching box urging a response, Rybakina steadied herself, firing an ace to begin a crucial hold and spark the turnaround.

That moment ignited a five-game run from Rybakina, who flipped the match with composed serving and fearless ball-striking. Sabalenka managed to hold for 5–4, but on championship point, Rybakina trusted her biggest weapon again, sealing the title with another ace. She finished the match having won 64% of points at 30–30 or deuce and an impressive 75% of break points, consistently rising to the occasion in the biggest moments.

Statistically, the final was defined by razor-thin margins. Both players won exactly 92 points, underscoring how evenly matched the match was. The difference came in execution under pressure, particularly in the third set, where Rybakina put 72% of her service returns in play compared to Sabalenka’s 59%. Even with just six aces, a modest number by her standards, Rybakina served with precision and control, choosing her spots carefully and dictating play when it mattered most.

Rybakina’s win marked the 12th title of her career, adding another major to a resume that already includes a WTA Finals title and two WTA 1000 titles. She improved her head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 7–8, avenging losses in the 2023 Australian Open and 2021 Wimbledon finals. The win will lift her back to world No. 3 when the rankings update, capping a dominant stretch that includes a tour-best 37–6 record since last year’s Wimbledon and a career-high 10-match winning streak against top-10 opponents.

For Sabalenka, the loss dropped her to 4–4 in Grand Slam finals, including her second straight loss in the Australian Open final after last year’s loss to Madison Keys. Still, she retains the No. 1 ranking by a wide margin and has now spent 75 weeks atop the WTA standings, the 11th most in tour history. She entered the final riding a run of 12 straight match wins and 22 consecutive sets to start the season, but on this night, Rybakina’s composure and resolve proved decisive.