A Late Surge in Melbourne: Rybakina Shocks Sabalenka to Claim 2026 Australian Open Glory

The women’s final at the Australian Open delivered a dramatic twist worthy of history. Elena Rybakina stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a fearless comeback, capturing the title under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena.

Chasing her fifth career Grand Slam singles crown, Sabalenka stormed into the deciding set, winning five straight games to take a commanding 3-0 lead. At that moment, the task facing Rybakina looked overwhelming, and few would have been surprised had the match slipped away.

Instead, Rybakina responded in kind—winning five consecutive games of her own—before doing what Sabalenka could not: finishing the job.

The 26-year-old Kazakh, long regarded as one of the most dangerous yet inconsistent players on tour, delivered her most complete performance when it mattered most. With an ace on match point, she sealed a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory to claim her second Grand Slam singles title, her first since Wimbledon 2022.

Rybakina’s triumph further cemented her remarkable record against Sabalenka on hard courts. From WTA 1000 events to the season-ending championships and now a Grand Slam, all of her biggest hard-court titles have come at the expense of the Belarusian. Most recently, she defeated Sabalenka at the 2025 WTA Finals.

For Sabalenka, the defeat added another chapter to a frustrating pattern. Despite reaching four of the last five Grand Slam finals, she has lifted the trophy only once during that stretch, at the 2025 US Open.

“It’s tough to find the words,” Rybakina said afterward, “but Aryna has had amazing results for the past few years. I hope we’ll play many more finals together.”

On a night defined by resilience and resolve, Rybakina proved that momentum can change in an instant—and champions are the ones who seize it.