Rybakina rallies to win the Australian Open title

Rybakina rallies to win second Grand Slam title and first down under

Three years ago, in Melbourne, with a Grand Slam title at stake, they became three. Aryna Sabalenka prevailed and the following year she defended her title. She went for the hat trick 2025 but lost her crown 5-7 in the third to Madison Keys. This was Elena Rybakina’s first Aussie Open final.

The 2022 The Wimbledon champion struggled at the start of last season but ended on a flourish to win the WTA Final in Riyadh, where she defeated Sabalenka in straight sets in the title match.

Rybakina achieved a career high rank of #3 in 2023but is currently ranked fifth and seeded fifth. Sabalenka initially reached #1 in September 2023 but has held on continuously since October 2024.
Sabalenka led the head-to-head confrontation 8-6 but followed Rybakina 5-6 on hard court. This was their first meeting at the Australian Open and third at a slam.

Mike Frey-Imagn images

In the run-up to the championship match, the twenty-seven-year-old from Belarus had not dropped a set and defeated two seeded players.17 Victoria Mboko and #12 Elina Svitolina.
Rybakina from Kazakhstan, and a year younger, had not dropped a set in six matches and defeated three seeded 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 although she opened with two consecutive winners, including an ace off the tee, she faced two break points and a dump serve. Rybakina opened with an ace up 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 still held on easily 15 for 3-1.

The world #1 hit her third ace and held on to love 2-3. Rybakina beat two consecutive backhand winners and held on 30 for 4-2 while Sabalenka opened and closed the seventh with winners including her fourth ace.

The world #5 serving with new balls opened with an inside-out forehand winner and despite a double break point, held with three consecutive well-placed serves, including her second ace. The two-time Australian Open champion served to stay in the set and did so with two excellent forehand winners and a monster serve off the tee. Rybakina missed 3/6 serves first, but is held 30 to secure the set after a forehand from her opponent. Sabalenka left the court after the set.

Although Sabalenka moves and defends better than Rybakina, her second serve is often a problem. The ruling one US Open champion served first in the second and held 15 with her fourth ace while Rybakina struggled. Although she hit five winners, she committed a double fault, conceding six deuce and three break points, but remained level.

Sabalenka held on easily 15 for 2-1 despite her first double fault, while Rybakina held on with her third 15 for parity. Sabalenka opened the fifth with a fantastic crosscourt forehand and closed with a colossal serve up the middle, while Rybakina crushed an inside-in forehand and held on 30 for 3-3.

Sabalenka missed 4/8 first serve, including a double fault, but held 4-3 with a formidable serve off the tee and a spectacular crosscourt forehand. Rybakina hit three straight winners, including two additional aces, to stay level.

Sabalenka made 4/5 first served and held 15 to lead 5-4 while Rybakina faced a triple set point and conceded after Sabalenka ripped a forehand pass down the line.

Sabalenka kept her composure as the deciding set began. She served first and held on easily 15 while Rybakina missed 5/6 first serve and was broken after two extraordinary backhand winners from her opponent.

The top seed faced a break point and deuce, but with three additional winners and an unreturnable serve, he consolidated the break for 3-0. It looked like the two-time Australian Open champion would run away with the set and claim her fifth Grand Slam title, but Rybakina rewrote the script.

She got to the board with her fifth ace and a non-returnable serve. Sabalenka made 4/5 first serve, but was broken after two unforced errors and a huge backhand down Rybakina’s line.

The 5e seed portion with new balls missed 5/8 first serve, faced a break point and deuce, but with a monster serve wide, he consolidated the break to level three.

Sabalenka’s frustration and excitement increased as her lead evaporated. She made three backhand errors and dropped serve when she scored a makeable forehand. Rybakina, sensing her opponent’s desperation, increased her intensity and focus. She made 4/6 first serve, shot a backhand down the line and consolidated the break with a huge serve through the middle.

Sabalenka, serving to stay in the match, opened with two remarkable forehand winners and easily held on 15 for 4-5. Rybakina submitted for the title, but she was confronted 30-30 After a brilliant backhand return from Sabalenka, she hit a huge serve off the tee and an ace wide to secure her second Grand Slam title and first in Melbourne.

It was an exciting, closely contested Grand Slam final between two of the best ball strikers in the world. WTA tour. Rybakina was happy with her team after almost winning her second slam 3 ½ year. The twenty-six-year-old finished with six aces and three double faults to win 76% of first and 48% second service points.

She was quite effective in neutralizing Sabalenka’s second serve and won 52% of those points. She was great at break points and saving 6/8 while converting 3/6. While Sabalenka hit more winners (35/28), one more mistake (25/24), and the same number of points converted (92), she received the second trophy! It’s never about how many, but about which points you win.

This is a compelling rivalry that never disappoints. While Sabalenka remains firmly entrenched at the top of the sport, Rybakina will equal her career-high rank of #3 come Monday morning. What a difference fourteen days makes.