The fifth seed captured the Australian Open (AO) 2026 women’s singles title, in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, on Saturday night. Under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena, the 26-year-old Kazakh took two hours and 18 minutes to prevail in the championship match.

She struck 28 winners en route to capturing her maiden AO crown and second Grand Slam title.

Rybakina had to dispense with World number 2 Iga Swiatek in the quarter-final and number 6 Jessica Pegula in the semi-final.

‘I’m happy that now I’m getting back to this level’

“Of course, they’re tough opponents, and they have great results, and for so long they’re at the top and it (has been) stable,” Rybakina said.

“I’m happy that now I’m getting back to this level and hopefully I can be stable again throughout the whole season and keep on showing great tennis and good results.”

It was Sabalenka’s second significant loss to Rybakina in a few months, having been beaten for the season-ending WTA Finals crown.

“She made some winners. I made a couple of unforced errors,” Sabalenka said after the match.

“Of course, I have regrets. You know, when you lead 3-0, and then it felt like in a few seconds it was 3-4, and I was down with a break. So it was very fast. Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me but, as I say, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner, maybe again a loser. Hopefully not. We’ll see,” she said.

The victory makes Rybakina just the sixth player in the Open Era to earn her first two majors on grass and hard court after Amelie Mauresmo, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Maria Hingis, and Venus Williams.

She’s also just the first player to secure the AO women’s singles crown by defeating three top 10 players since Naomi Osaka in 2019.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cvs