Elena Rybakina produced a powerful performance to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, claiming her maiden Australian Open title at Melbourne Park.
Rybakina struck early, breaking serve in the opening game and dictating play with aggressive ball-striking to take the first set.
Sabalenka responded in the second, capitalising on an error from the Kazakh to level the match and force a deciding set.
In the final set, Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead, but Rybakina showed composure to fight back, breaking serve to move ahead 4-3. She maintained her nerve to close out the match and secure the championship.
The victory marks Rybakina’s second Grand Slam title, adding to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph, and avenges her loss to Sabalenka in their previous Australian Open final meeting three years ago.
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In doing so, Rybakina has etched her name into the WTA record books, now holding the highest winning percentage against world No. 1 opponents at 60 percent surpassing legends of the sport such as Serena Williams (5
8.6 percent) and Steffi Graf (57.9 percent), while standing well clear of other greats including Lindsay Davenport (44.1 percent), Elina Svitolina (43.8 percent), and Justine Henin (43.8 percent).
