09:47
Sabalenka – Rybakina: 0:1
On the second break ball, Sabalenka has to go over the second serve. This puts Rybakina straight into the rally and puts her opponent under pressure. This seems too hectic and knocks the ball out of bounds. Rybakina takes the lead straight away with a break.
09:46
Sabalenka – Rybakina: 0-0
At 30:30 Rybakina takes the step out early. This means she returns early and can play a return winner. Sabalenka has no chance and can only watch.
09:45
Sabalenka – Rybakina: 0-0
Sabalenka starts with a strong serve to the outside. This is followed by a safe attack ball into the free corner of the field.
09:38
Coin toss:
Sabalenka won the coin toss and elected to serve.
09:37
Enema:
Both players run onto the pitch. It will start in a few minutes.
09:20
Head to Head:
There is a long rivalry between Sabalenka and Rybakina with 17 matches in which Sabalenka leads 10-7. Sabalenka won the 2023 AO final 4:6, 6:3, 6:4 and in Rome in 2024. However, Rybakina recently countered with victories in Cincinnati 2025 (6:1, 6:4) and the WTA Finals 2024 (6:4, 6:3). The duels are often close and end in tiebreaks or three sets.
09:19
Meaning of the final:
For Rybakina, this final is the path to her first Australian Open title and revenge for the defeat in 2023. It would be her second Grand Slam after Wimbledon 2022 and would catapult her firmly into the top three and cement her reputation as a hard court specialist.
09:16
Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina also had a perfect run. She started with 6:4, 6:3 against Kaja Juvan. In round two she defeated Varvara Gracheva 7:5, 6:2. The round of 16 ended 6:1, 6:3 against Elise Mertens. The quarterfinals were a highlight with 7:5, 6:1 against world second Iga Swiatek. In the semifinals she saved set points and won against Jessica Pegula 6:3, 7:6(9). Rybakina’s strengths on hard court are her precise, flat serve with a high success rate, deep and accurate baseline shots and a strong return, with which she celebrated 8 top 10 victories in a row. She never lost more than 7 games per match in the tournament before the SF. Weaknesses appear at high tempo or in tiebreaks where mental pressure points used to weigh on her, but her form is more stable than ever.
09:14
Meaning of the final:
This final has enormous significance for Sabalenka. As the defending champion from 2023 and 2024, a third win would make her the third player in the Open Era to reach four consecutive finals in Melbourne, after Martina Hingis and Serena Williams. It would mark her fifth Grand Slam title and cement her dominance on hard courts.
09:05
Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka made a convincing journey to the final. In the first round she defeated qualifier Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6:4 and 6:1. In round two there was a clear 6:3, 6:1 win against Zhuoxuan Bai. She won the third round against Anastasia Potapova 7:6(9), 7:6(7). In the round of 16 she defeated Vicki Mboko 6:1, 7:6(1). In the quarterfinals she dominated Iva Jovic 6:3, 6:0, and in the semifinals she dominated Elina Svitolina 6:2, 6:3. Her strengths on hard court lie primarily in her explosive groundstroke power, one of the strongest serves in the field with an average of over 10 aces per match, and an aggressive style of play that puts opponents under constant pressure. In the tournament, she reduced her unforced errors and impressed with variations such as drop shots and net attacks. Weaknesses occasionally show up in long rallies where impatience leads to mistakes, but this was hardly visible here.
08:57
Welcome!
Good morning and welcome to the penultimate day of the Australian Open 2026. Today the women’s final is on the program. From 9:30 a.m., world number one Aryna Sabalenka will meet Elena Rybakina.
