World No. 5 Elena Rybakina scripted history at the Australian Open by becoming the first player from Kazakhstan to win the women’s singles title, defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set final on Saturday.
Rybakina prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a contest that lasted two hours and 18 minutes at Rod Laver Arena, capping a remarkable run at the season’s first Grand Slam.
Reacting after her victory, Rybakina described the triumph as a proud moment, calling the Australian Open a “Happy Slam” and acknowledging the effort put in by her support team throughout the tournament.
The 26-year-old also expressed hope that her rivalry with Sabalenka would continue at the highest level, saying she looked forward to contesting more finals against the world No. 1.
Sabalenka, gracious in defeat, congratulated Rybakina on her title run and said she would aim to return stronger in the coming year.
The Australian Open title marks Rybakina’s second Grand Slam victory, following her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. She is now the first Kazakhstani player to win major titles on both grass and hard courts.
Rybakina’s latest success also carried added significance as she avenged her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final, when she narrowly missed out on the title.
Both players entered the final without dropping a set, a rare feat in women’s Grand Slam history. In their 15th career meeting, Rybakina’s clean hitting and composure under pressure proved decisive, as she struck 28 winners and secured a crucial break early in the match.
With this victory, Rybakina became only the sixth player in the Open Era to win her first two Grand Slam titles on different surfaces, joining an elite list of former champions. She also achieved the distinction of winning the Australian Open by defeating the world’s top three ranked players during the tournament, a feat last accomplished in 2019.
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