Rybakina submits Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 for his first Australian Open title
Rybakina rallies to win her second Grand Slam title and first down
Three years ago, in Melbourne, with a Grand Slam title on the line, they went three. Aryna Sabalenka prevailed and next year defended her title. She went for the hattrick in the 2025 but lost the crown 5-7 in the third to Madison Keys. This was Elena Rybakina’s first Aussie Open final.
of 2022 The Wimbledon champion struggled at the start of last season but ended it with a flourish, winning WTA The final in Riyadh, where in the title match, she defeated Sabalenka in straight sets.
Rybakina achieved a career high rank of #3 IN 2023but is currently ranked and ranked fifth. Sabalenka first reached #1 in September 2023 but has kept it uninterrupted since October 2024.
Sabalenka led head to head 8-6 but Rybakina followed 5-6 in the hard court. This was their first meeting at the Australian Open and their third at a slam.
Images by Mike Frey-Imagn
At the start of the championship match, the twenty-seven-year-old from Belarus had not lost a set and defeated two consecutive players- #17 Victoria Mboko and #12 Elina Svitolina.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, a year younger, had not lost a set in six matches and defeated three players in a row: #21Elise Mertens, #2 Every Swiatek, and #6 Jessica Pegula.
With the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka served first, and as she opened with two winners in a row, including an ace on the tee, she faced two break points and dropped serve. Rybakina opened with an ace down the middle and held on to consolidate the break. Sabalenka hit three winners, including her second ace on game point, while Rybakina opened with a double fault but easily held. 15 ABOUT 3-1.
the world #1 hit her third ace and held to love 2-3. Rybakina hit two back-to-back backhand winners and held on 30 ABOUT 4-2 while Sabalenka opened and closed the seventh with winners, including her fourth ace.
the world #5 the young ball serve opened with an inside-out forehand winner and despite facing double break points, held with three consecutive well-placed serves, including her second ace. The two-time Australian Open champion served to stay in the group and did so with two outstanding forehand winners and a monster tee serve. Rybakina lost 3/6 first serve but held in 30 to secure the set after a misfire by her opponent. Sabalenka left the court after the end of the set.
While Sabalenka moves and defends better than Rybakina, her second serve is often a liability. The reigning US The Open champion served first in the second and held 15 with her fourth ace as Rybakina fought back. Although she hit five winners, she double-faulted, faced six deuces and three break points, but held level.
Sabalenka held it easily 15 ABOUT 2-1 despite her first double fault, while Rybakina, with her third, held on 15 for equality. Sabalenka opened the fifth with a fantastic cross-court forehand and closed with a colossal serve down the middle as Rybakina pressed a forehand inside and held for it. 30 ABOUT 3-3.
Sabalenka lost 4/8 serves first, including a double fault, but held for 4-3 with a great serve to the tee and a spectacular crosscourt forehand. Rybakina hit three winners in a row, including two extra aces, and was held dear to level.
Sabalenka did 4/5 first serves and is held for him 15 to lead 5-4 as Rybakina faced triple set point and conceded it after Sabalenka dropped a forehand down the line.
Sabalenka kept her composure as the deciding set began. She served first and was easily held 15 while Rybakina lost 5/6 first serves and was broken after two incredible backhand winners from her opponent.
The top seed faced a break point and deuce, but with three additional winners and an unreturned serve, consolidated the break for 3-0. It looked like the two-time Australian Open champion would run away with a set and win her fifth Grand Slam title, but Rybakina rewrote the script.
She got on the board with her fifth ace and an unreturnable serve. Sabalenka did 4/5 first serve but was broken after two unforced errors and a massive backhand down the line from Rybakina.
of 5The seed serve with new balls was missed 5/8 first serves, faced a break point and deuce, but with a monster serve wide, consolidated the break at level three.
Sabalenka’s frustration and agitation grew as her lead disappeared. She served three backhand errors and dropped serve when she hit a potential forehand. Rybakina, sensing her opponent’s desperation, increased her intensity and focus. She did 4/6 The first serves, burst into the opposite line and with a big serve in the middle, consolidated the break.
Sabalenka, serving to stay in the match, opened with two incredible forehand winners and easily held 15 ABOUT 4-5. Rybakina served for the title, and though she faced 30-30 after a brilliant return from Sabalenka, she hit a titanic serve and an ace out wide to secure her second Grand Slam title and her first in Melbourne.
It was a high-octane, closely contested Grand Slam final between two of the best ball-strikers in WTA tournament. Rybakina rejoiced with her team as she almost won her second slam 3 ½ year. The twenty-six-year-old finished with six aces, three double faults and won 76First % and 48% of second serve points.
She was quite effective in neutralizing Sabalenka’s second serve, winning 52% of those points. She was excellent at break points, saving 6/8 during conversion 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 much, but what points you earn.
This is an enticing rivalry that never disappoints. While Sabalenka remains firmly at the top of the sport, Rybakina will equal her career high of #3 come monday morning What a difference a fortnight makes.
