Rybakina stuns Sabalenka in dramatic Australian Open final

Elena Rybakina secured her maiden Australian Open championship by mounting a stunning comeback against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The fifth seed triumphed with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory after being down 3-0 in the deciding third set. This dramatic win not only earns Rybakina her second Grand Slam title, following her 2022 Wimbledon triumph, but also serves as redemption for her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.

In a high-stakes encounter between two powerful players, Rybakina showcased exceptional resilience. Sabalenka, who had won seven of their previous nine hard-court matches, seemed poised for victory after breaking Rybakina's formidable serve late in the second set and early in the third. However, Rybakina found another gear, winning five games in a row to take control. Her clean ball-striking and clutch serving proved decisive in the final set, as she maintained her composure to serve out the match. Rybakina's path to the title was arduous, marked by victories over other top-10 players, including world number two Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula in earlier rounds. This remarkable run makes her the first player since Naomi Osaka in 2019 to defeat three top-10 opponents in successive rounds from the quarter-finals onwards to claim the title. Rybakina continues to be a dominant force, holding the most wins on the WTA Tour since the end of Wimbledon last year.