Elena Rybakina has won the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles title after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a tense final at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
The fifth-seeded Kazakh player secured a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory in a match that lasted over two hours and kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Rybakina took the first set with strong serving and calm play, putting Sabalenka under early pressure in the match.
Sabalenka responded in the second set, raising her level and forcing the match into a deciding third set.
In the final set, Rybakina showed great composure, recovering from a break down before sealing the win with a powerful ace on her first championship point.
The match featured long rallies, powerful shots and several momentum swings as both players fought hard for the title.
For Sabalenka, it was a painful defeat after reaching yet another Australian Open final, but she could not hold on in the closing stages.
The victory marks Rybakina’s second Grand Slam title and her first Australian Open triumph, adding to her growing success on the world tennis stage.
Her strong serve and smart shot selection proved to be the difference in key moments of the match.
With this win, Rybakina strengthens her position among the top players in women’s tennis and begins the new season with confidence and momentum.