New champion! Elena Rybakina wins the 2026 Australian Open, dethroning Aryna Sabalenka
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Elena Rybakina etched her name into tennis history with a gutsy victory in the Australian Open final over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Details: In a dramatic three-set battle (6-4, 4-6, 6-4), the Kazakh star pulled off a stunning comeback in the deciding set, rallying from 0-3 down. This marks Rybakina’s second Grand Slam trophy, following her landmark Wimbledon triumph in 2022.
Rybakina’s stats this season have been nothing short of intimidating for her rivals. After her title run in Ningbo, she reeled off 20 wins with only a single defeat (to Muchova in Brisbane). What’s more, Rybakina is now just the sixth player this century to notch 10 or more consecutive victories over WTA top-10 opponents, joining the likes of Serena and Venus Williams, Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo, and Iga Swiatek.
Since the introduction of the WTA rankings in 1975, only the Williams sisters have more often defeated both the world No. 1 and No. 2 at a single tournament. Elena has now accomplished this feat three times, showcasing phenomenal mental strength against the tour’s biggest favorites.
This Australian triumph capped off a flawless stretch: Rybakina didn’t drop a single set in the tournament until the final showdown.
Reminder: Carlos Alcaraz became the world’s top five-set match player with a 15-1 record.
