Rybakina defeats Sabalenka in Australian Open final

After 2:18 hours of play and a thrilling game, Jelena Rybakina stood at the baseline. She had match point. The 26-year-old was only one point short of her second major success in her career. Rybakina triumphed at Wimbledon in 2022, when her victory was also marked by her change of nation years earlier; She, a quiet, friendly, reserved person, was born in Russia and has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018. Even before Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it had joined the Central Asian country. Rybakina served and the ball slammed into Aryna Sabalenka’s court as an ace. You can’t win in tennis more stylishly, more sublimely than finishing the last point like this 6:4, 4:6, 6:4.

The final of the Australian Open women’s tournament offered a high-class duel, and the 15,000 spectators in the Rod Laver Arena definitely got their money’s worth. Of course, this hardly helped Sabalenka, the world number one from Belarus and probably the most charismatic performer in active women’s tennis, to overcome her frustration. She, sometimes considered a drama queen, wanted to win her fifth Grand Slam title, her second in Melbourne after 2023 and 2024. Now she sat there, the towel wrapped over her head, looking like a mummy. This defeat affected them. In 2025 she also lost in the final, against the American Madison Keys. As is well known, she always shows her emotions openly, which is often refreshing.

Rybakina, the stoic, is completely different. She raised her hand a few times and clapped her palm on the racket string after the victory as a sign of thanks. It was hard to tell from her face that she had won her second major title. Every person is different, and there is something fascinating about that. Rybakina received 2.4 million euros, Sabalenka received half.

“That was an incredible performance,” Sabalenka paid tribute to the winner. “I hope things go better next year.” By her standards, she gave a short, unspectacular speech. Rybakina congratulated Sabalenka on her tournament, thanked the spectators, thanked the supporters in the stadium who came from Kazakhstan. “It really is a happy slam,” she said, holding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, named after former Australian tennis player Daphne Akhurst. It wasn’t the most exciting victory speech, not everyone can chat as amusingly as the Chinese Li Na did when she won in Melbourne in 2014. But Rybakina received long, sustained applause. The respect for this player is great. Because she is likeable and her acting is sometimes breathtaking. Sabalenka remains number one in the world rankings. Rybakina moves up to third place.

Keeping emotions under control is always a central task for Sabalenka

The two offered a duel with the ingredients strength, athleticism and uncompromising. Rybakina started furiously, she immediately booked Sabalenka’s serve game, who was already showing great theatrics when she was 1:3 behind. She waved them off, swore, and looked as if she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. But you couldn’t be too strict with Sabalenka. Keeping her emotions under control has always been a central task for her, and one that she has worked on successfully in recent years. She likes to make fun of it herself with her robust humor.

At least the 1.82 meter tall Sabalenka caught herself and held her serves. However, she didn’t always have answers to the serves of the 1.84 meter tall Rybakina, who also serves at 190 km/h. And when the ball was in play, Rybakina shone with perfectly curved angled shots. Of all the professionals who can look wonderfully annoyed, Sabalenka looks the most annoyed when things don’t go in her favor. And the 4:6 after a crisp 36 minutes nibbled at her. Tennis, the psychological sport. Millions are watching and you are alone with all your feelings.

Sentence two, what would Sabalenka do? She first disappeared for a bathroom break, which has also become a custom as a tactical means. Whoever is behind leaves the court to give the opponent time to think. The Polish Iga Swiatek is a master in this discipline, as is Laura Siegemund, with whom you sometimes don’t know whether she will even come back. Would the maneuver work on Rybakina? It’s hard to say whether that was the reason, but Sabalenka fought back three break points. Rybakina withstood the pressure. The game remained even – until 4:5. Then Sabalenka, determination incarnate, forced her first break and the 6:4.

Now Sabalenka disappeared to the toilet, but Rybakina grabbed her bag, followed behind and let Sabalenka, who had returned earlier, wait. Rybakina changed her clothes, the regulations allow this. The winner of the WC psychological games was Sabalenka, who now played more stable and moved away to 3-0. Was that the decision? No, because Sabalenka’s nerves kicked in. Her game began to wobble, Rybakina’s courage was rewarded and she turned the game around. The 0:3 became 5:3. Sabalenka threw the bat. At 5:4 Rybakina stayed cool. And she hit the ace to triumph.