Elena Rybakina Explains the Fundamental Difference Between her Performance in the 2023 and 2026 Australian Open Finals Against Aryna Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title, defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the Australian Open final.
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Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final (image via Getty)
Elena Rybakina had a redeeming triumph at the 2026 Australian Open final, defeating two-time champion and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Both players previously met in the 2023 final in Melbourne, where the Belarusian came back from a set down to defeat Rybakina and win her maiden Grand Slam title.
This year, too, the first set was won by Rybakina and the second by Sabalenka. In the third set, Rybakina fought back from 3-0 down to seal the win 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. She was composed throughout the match and also after the win, giving a very nonchalant reaction. During her post-match press conference, Rybakina spoke about her win:
Last time I was close but Aryna played really well that match. She stepped in, she went for her shots, she was serving really well. She was even risking a little bit because the 2nd serve was going as the first. I knew even today if I get a chance to lead I will need to try some risky shots and just go for it. Not wait for any mistakes or even get to the long rallies. It’s great and it’s amazing to hold this trophy this time.
The 26-year-old has been in great form for the past four months. She won the WTA Finals in Riyadh last year without losing a match. She defeated Sabalenka in straight sets in that final. She reached the finals in Melbourne without dropping a set, defeating players like Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula on the way.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, reached her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, becoming only the third woman in the Open Era to do so. She won the 2024 title without dropping a set, defeating Qinwen Zheng in the final. In 2025, she was defeated by Madison Keys in three sets in the final. Sabalenka narrowly leads their head-to-head 8-7, while Rybakina has won their last three meetings.
Elena Rybakina pays homage to Kazakhstan
Elena Rybakina carries the flag of Kazakhstan with pride. In her Australian Open victory speech, she gave a shoutout to her country. She has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, after the nation’s tennis federation offered to financially support her.
Kazakhstan Tennis Federation President Bulat Utemuratov was also there at Rod Laver Arena to support Rybakina, who also went to greet him after the win. Speaking about her country, Rybakina remarked:
Actually, I want to say thank you to my sponsors, of course and the President of the Tennis Federation. Thank you for always coming and supporting us…Today we had a few other matches with Kazakhstan players. I am really proud, and hopefully we can continue doing a great job.
In her speech, Rybakina mentioned other Kazakh players who were also competing that day. Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina played the doubles final with Croatia’s Aleksandra Krunic, with the pair losing in straight sets to Elise Mertens and Shuai Zhang. Kazakhstan’s Zangar Nurlanuly played the junior boys’ singles, losing to the USA’s Keaton Hance.
Rybakina won a Grand Slam title after nearly four years, having won her maiden one at Wimbledon 2022, defeating Ons Jabeur in the final. Since then, it has been a journey filled with ups and downs for Rybakina, where she also had to witness her coach Stefano Vukov being banned.
But in the past few months, Rybakina has raised her level and shown her consistent performance in big tournaments. She will also return to her career-high ranking of World No. 3 on Monday.
Also Read: Elena Rybakina wins ‘This’ Prize Money After Toppling Aryna Sabalenka in Australian Open Final
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