Elena Rybakina claimed her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam overall with a statement performance against Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in three sets, coming back from 3-0 down in the decider to seal the victory 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
The Kazakh star secured her first major since her maiden triumph at Wimbledon in 2022, becoming the sixth player in the Open Era to win her first two Grand Slams on grass and hard court.
How many Grand Slam titles does Elena Rybakina win in her career?
With her triumph, Rybakina is also now the player with the highest win percentage against the world number one since the WTA rankings were first published in 1975.
Following the conclusion of the final, former American star Coco Vandeweghe suggested the rest of the tour may be in trouble.
Coco Vandeweghe reacts to the Australian Open final
Speaking on TNT, Vandeweghe said: “You have to think that the hard courts now become more of a conversation between Rybakina and Sabalenka. Everyone else is a tier below in my mind.
“Maybe Indian Wells is the only other event we can say because it’s a slow hard court that it becomes more of an even match for everyone.
“But I am excited to see what the other surfaces have to offer. On clay courts, we have seen both these women make semifinals at Roland Garros.
Who will be ranked higher by the end of 2026 – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
“Wimbledon, who is going to match up there? Because those are the top biggest hitters and servers and what does Wimbledon like to see?
“For me I think it will be a tough race for everyone to catch up for everyone else to catch up with what Rybakina and Sabalenka did here. This is the benchmark.”
Aryna Sabalenka loses third Grand Slam final in a year
While it’s ecstasy for Rybakina, it’s agony for Sabalenka, who has now lost in three of her last four appearances in Grand Slam finals.
Sabalenka was beaten in last year’s Australian Open final by Maddison Keys, with the American denying her a three-peat at Melbourne Park.
Later that season at Roland Garros, Sabalenka fell to Coco Gauff in the title bout, despite taking the first set in the match.
Though she managed to get over the line at the US Open against Amanda Anisimova, Sabalenka has lost another match on the very biggest stage to Rybakina.
Rybakina made it two wins in a row in the head-to-head with Sabalenka, whom she battled past at the 2025 WTA Finals.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
