Elena Rybakina has been almost unstoppable at the start of the 2026 season.
Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open title for the first time.
This is the second major title of the Kazakhstani’s career, with Rybakina adding the Australian Open to her Wimbledon win back in 2022.
Rybakina looks to be a real force in this kind of form, but she has actually been beaten by one WTA player this year.
Elena Rybakina lost her only match in 2026 at the Brisbane International
Not only has Rybakina lost only one match in 2026, but she has also only lost one of her last 21 matches.
During this time, Rybakina has won the WTA Finals, the Australian Open and the Ningbo Open, but she was unable to add the Brisbane International to this list.
How many Grand Slam titles does Elena Rybakina win in her career?
After reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane, Rybakina was beaten by 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova, 6-2 2-6 6-4.
Rybakina admitted she was struggling with her serve during this match, but that was certainly not a feature at the Australian Open.
Instead, it was a real weapon for Rybakina, who some believe has the best serve on the WTA Tour, with the two-time Grand Slam champion hitting 20 more aces than any other player at the Australian Open this year.
Muchova also reached the second week of the Australian Open, but was beaten in the fourth round by Coco Gauff.
Who will be ranked higher by the end of 2026 – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
What is next for Elena Rybakina after her Australian Open win?
Rybakina will look to continue her dominance after winning the Australian Open, but she has already made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Abu Dhabi Open.
The new world number three is still expected to return to the match court in the coming weeks, as she is entered into back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai.
These are two tournaments where Rybakina has found success before, particularly at the Qatar Open where she reached the final in 2024.
| Tournament | Elena Rybakina’s Win-loss Record | Elena Rybakina’s Best Result |
| Qatar Open | 12-3 (80%) | Final (2024) |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | 8-2 (80%) | Semifinal (2025) |
Rybakina will look to get her hands on the title for the first time when the Qatar Open gets underway on February 8.
The Dubai Tennis Championships will follow straight after on February 15.
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