Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus to win the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday.
Aaron Favila/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Aaron Favila/AP
MELBOURNE, Australia — Elena Rybakina secured her second Grand Slam title by defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Saturday, showcasing a quiet determination throughout the tournament.
Despite facing challenges at the beginning of 2025, including the suspension of her coach, Rybakina ended the previous year on a high note with a victory at the WTA Finals in November. Starting the new year with a major championship win further solidified her comeback.
Rybakina’s unassuming celebration mirrored her understated performance in the tournament: a subtle fist pump, a brief embrace with Sabalenka, a handshake with the chair umpire, and a gracious acknowledgment of the crowd.
Her composed demeanor was evident as she closed out the match with an ace to complete a third-set comeback and secure a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over her familiar opponent who had defeated her in the 2023 final.
“My heart was racing, even though it may not have shown on my face, there were a lot of emotions inside,” said the 26-year-old Rybakina, who hails from Moscow but represents Kazakhstan.
Knowing she had to seize the moment, Rybakina swiftly capitalized on her opportunity, learning from her previous match where she experienced nerves and took extra time to secure the win.
Reflecting on her past performance in the Australian final, Rybakina demonstrated mental fortitude by bouncing back from a second-set loss and a 3-0 deficit in the third set to reel off five consecutive games and regain control.
