After their respective semifinal victories, it was clear the final would be a repeat of the 2023 Australian Open final between world No. 1 Sabalenka and world No. 5 Rybakina.
Then Sabalenka won. Now it was Rybakina's turn.
The 26-year-old won 2–1 in sets (6–4, 4–6, 6–4) in a match that took over two hours.
“I am very happy that my team and I managed to secure this result, and I hope we can continue like this throughout the year,” Rybakina said to the cheers of the audience.
It was the eventual champion who won the first set, but Sabalenka was able to level the score at 1–1.
In the third and decisive set, Sabalenka took a 3–0 lead, and the final looked set. Then Rybakina made a huge comeback. She tied the score and then won the set 6–4.
“I'm super happy that it ultimately went my way,” Rybakina told Eurosport.
“I was close three years ago, now I finally get to hold this trophy.”
The victory means that Rybakina has secured $4.15 million, which is equivalent to almost 37 million kronor.
Sabalenka receives just over 19 million kronor for her place in the final.
It is Sabalenka's second straight final loss in Melbourne, last year to American Madison Keys. Before that, Sabalenka won the tournament two years in a row.
2026: Jelena Rybakina, Kazakhstan.
2025: Madison Keys, USA.
2024: Aryna Sabalenka, neutral.
2023: Aryna Sabalenka, neutral.
2022: Ashleigh Barty, Australia.
