Fifth seed Elena Rybakina staged a dramatic comeback to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, securing her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam trophy.
In a repeat of their 2023 final, Rybakina avenged her previous loss by overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the deciding set.
While Sabalenka appeared poised for her third Melbourne crown in four years, Rybakina surged back to win five consecutive games, eventually sealing the victory with an ace.
Rybakina flipped the script in the third set, breaking Sabalenka twice after trailing 0-3.
On her way to the title, Rybakina defeated three top-10 players (Swiatek, Pegula, and Sabalenka).
The 26-year-old has now won 38 matches since Wimbledon, more than any other player on tour.
Rybakina’s victory solidifies her as the “in-form” player on the WTA Tour, ending Sabalenka’s dominant run on hard courts.
