Elena Rybakina withstood a fierce comeback from ArynaSabalenka to claim the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles title. The world No. 5showed remarkable composure to recover after dropping the second set,eventually sealing a hard‐fought 6‐4, 4‐6,6‐4victory in Saturday’s final at Rod Laver Arena inMelbourne. Rybakina made a strong start, breaking Sabalenka in theopening game and holding firm to take the first set 6‐4. Sabalenka responded with renewed intensity in the secondset, levelling the contest by winning it 6‐4. With both players trading powerful baseline exchanges in atense deciding set, Rybakina dug deep, breaking serve at a crucial momentbefore closing out the match 6‐4 to lift the Daphne AkhurstMemorial Cup. The triumph marked Rybakina’s first Australian Open titleand her second Grand Slam crown, following her Wimbledon success in 2022. HUGE. pic.twitter.com/1obKurIXUB— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2026 She also became the first woman since Naomi Osaka in 2019 todefeat three top‐10 opponents en route to winning the Melbourne major. The victory further narrowed her head‐to‐headdeficit against Sabalenka, with Rybakina now trailing by just one match at 8‐7.
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