Elena Rybakina returned to Melbourne with unfinished business and left with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in her hands. In a gripping Australian Open final, the fifth seed defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to claim her maiden title at the Happy Slam. It was a victory shaped by resilience, memory, and a calm that never wavered when the match hung in the balance.
Two years after losing to Sabalenka in the same final, Rybakina finally closed the loop. She struck first by breaking serve in the opening game and setting the tone with clean, powerful hitting. The first set felt controlled, measured, and full of quiet intent from a player who knew exactly what this moment meant.
Sabalenka responded as champions do. After absorbing early pressure, the Belarusian raised her level in the second set and took advantage of a rare loose game from Rybakina to level the match. The noise inside Rod Laver Arena grew louder, with Sabalenka urging herself on while Rybakina stayed composed and still.
The deciding set brought echoes of 2023. Sabalenka surged into a 3-0 lead, and the momentum seemed to shift sharply. This time, Rybakina did not blink, winning five straight games with fearless returns and a serve that refused to crack.
The numbers told part of the story. Rybakina struck six aces and saved six of the eight break points she faced. Apart from brief lapses, her serve and first strike tennis kept her in control of the biggest points.
Her calm stood in sharp contrast to Sabalenka’s raw emotion. As the match wore on, the world number one’s roars became louder, while Rybakina remained almost serene between points. In the end, a booming ace sealed the title on her first championship point.
“It’s hard to find words now,” Rybakina said on court. “Of course I want to congratulate Aryna on her amazing results for the last couple of years. I hope we’re going to play many more finals together. It was a battle. Honestly.”
For Rybakina, this title marked a turning point in a career that had stalled after her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. A win over Sabalenka at the WTA Finals last November sparked her resurgence, and she arrived in Melbourne with the most wins on tour since Wimbledon. She has now won 20 of her last 21 matches.
Sabalenka, chasing a third straight Australian Open crown, was left to reflect again. “I’m really speechless right now,” she said. “Let’s hope next year is going to be a better year.”
As the Kazakhstan flag was unfurled and Rybakina lifted the trophy, redemption felt complete. Melbourne, once a place of pain, had finally become a place of triumph.
