Breaking: Rybakina beats Sabalenka to claim Australian Open Women’s Title

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Elena Rybakina produced a composed and resilient performance to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka and win the Australian Open women’s singles title, sealing a gripping 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory in Melbourne on Saturday.

The 26-year-old claimed her second Grand Slam crown and her first major title since lifting the Wimbledon trophy in 2022, underlining her status as one of the most consistent performers on the sport’s biggest stages.

Rybakina held her nerve in a tense final that swung repeatedly in momentum, closing out the championship with an ace to cap a high-quality contest lasting just over two hours.

After taking the opening set 6-4, the Kazakh was pegged back as Sabalenka responded strongly to claim the second set by the same scoreline.

The deciding set proved dramatic, with Rybakina recovering from an early deficit to break Sabalenka’s serve and wrest control of the match.

Serving for the title under intense pressure, she delivered a clutch display to secure victory and spark celebrations with her team.

For Sabalenka, the defeat ended her bid for a fifth Grand Slam singles title. The top seed, who had previously won the Australian Open twice and defeated Rybakina in the 2023 final, showed flashes of her trademark power but struggled to maintain composure during key moments of the decider.

The final capped a compelling end to the women’s tournament, rewarding Rybakina’s calm temperament and precise shot-making.