Frank Rondel
Elena Rybakina secured her second Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open on Saturday night, rallying from behind in the final set to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, reports customreceipt.com. The match, played at Rod Laver Arena, showcased a dramatic turnaround as Rybakina overcame a 0-3 deficit in the deciding set to capture the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
Rybakina, ranked fifth globally, appeared under pressure after Sabalenka broke her serve for only the second time in the match and surged to an early lead in the third set. However, Rybakina won five consecutive games to seize control, ultimately serving out the victory with an ace. This triumph allowed her to avenge defeats to Sabalenka in both the 2023 Australian Open and 2021 Wimbledon finals. Following the match, the two players shared a sportsmanlike embrace at the net before Rybakina celebrated by raising her arm and striking the strings of her racket.
“It’s amazing to hold this trophy,” Rybakina said. “I knew today that if I had the opportunity to lead, I needed to take risks and go for the points instead of waiting for mistakes. The third set was tough, but I focused on each point and stayed calm, which helped me turn the match around.”
The 2-hour and 18-minute final was tightly contested, with both players winning exactly 92 points. Rybakina excelled in high-pressure moments, claiming 64% of points tied at 30-30 or 40-40, and 75% when facing break points. Her third-set service returns landed at a 72% success rate, a decisive edge over Sabalenka, whose returns only connected 59% of the time. Rybakina’s strategy relied on combining heavy groundstrokes with fearless court coverage to counter Sabalenka’s power and aggressive style.
From the outset, Rybakina set the tone by breaking Sabalenka’s first service game, executing high-risk shots despite the top-ranked player landing seven of eight first serves. Her approach persisted throughout the match, culminating in the award of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, presented by two-time Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati.
“I played well until certain points where I couldn’t match her aggression today,” Sabalenka said. “Maybe I could have been more aggressive on my serve when I had a break, but Rybakina played brilliantly. She deserved this win.”
The victory marks a significant resurgence for Rybakina, who will rise to world No. 3 in the upcoming WTA rankings on Monday. At 26, she concluded last season with semifinal finishes at the Toronto and Cincinnati WTA 1000 events, followed by a championship at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since last year’s Wimbledon, she holds a tour-leading 37-6 record and has extended her consecutive wins against top-10 opponents to a career-best ten matches.
“I always believed I could return to my top level,” Rybakina said. “Big wins against top players build confidence, and that’s what helped me succeed today.”
The loss represents Sabalenka’s second consecutive Australian Open final defeat, following a three-set loss to Madison Keys in last year’s final. Entering the 2026 final, Sabalenka had won 12 straight matches and 22 consecutive sets at the start of the year. “It’s tennis,” she reflected. “Today I’m a loser; tomorrow I can be a winner. Hopefully, I will have more victories than defeats this season.”
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