Summary

  • Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 to win Australian Open

  • Fifth seed Rybakina claims second Grand Slam title after 2022 Wimbledon triumph

  • World number one Sabalenka suffers third loss in past four Grand Slam finals

  • Rybakina will rise to third in world rankings

Live Reporting

Phil Cartwright, Harry Poole and Millie Sian

  1. Rybakina wins Australian Open title

    Elena Rybakina kisses the trophyGetty Images

    Thanks for joining our coverage of the women's final.

    On Sunday, it's the men's singles final and a match for the ages in Melbourne.

    Will Carlos Alcaraz become the youngest male player ever to complete a career Grand Slam? Or will Novak Djokovic cement his status as the GOAT with a standalone record 25th major title?

    We'll be live with text and radio commentary from 08:00 GMT, with play scheduled to start at about 08:30 GMT.

    Today, though, it's all about Elena Rybakina - your 2026 Australian Open women's singles champion.

    Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

  2. Read the report

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Miss any of the women's final? Read Harry Poole's report of Elena Rybakina's Australian Open victory.

  3. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Elena Rybakina is up to a career-high third in the world rankings as a result of her Australian Open victory.

    The 26-year-old is also right on the heels on second-placed Iga Swiatek - she'll be within 400 points when the next list is published.

    Considering Rybakina didn't have the best 2025 in the Grand Slams - she failed to make it past round four in any of the four majors - there's every chance she will climb to new heights over the next few months.

    Aryna Sabalenka still has a healthy lead of about 3,000 points at the top of the rankings.

    Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebratesGetty Images

  4. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Many expected a close final and that's exactly what we got.

    Of the 184 points that were played, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina each won 92.

  5. How the final unfolded

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Elena Rybakina broke in the first game of the match and held serve from there to move a set in front.

    However, Aryna Sabalenka fought to regain control and after missing some break points earlier in the second set, she eventually found the breakthrough at 5-4 up to level the match at one set all.

    World number one Sabalenka then broke early in the decider and went 3-0 up, but Rybakina put together a run of five games in a row before sealing victory with an ace on her first championship point.

  6. Rybakina 'untouchable' when 'fit and on fire'

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    When Elena Rybakina is fit and on fire - and not battling injury problems or viruses - she is untouchable.

    Her ball-striking quality is so pure and her shots just sound different because of the way they come out of the strings. The depth that she creates on the court, with her low and flat strikes, is fantastic. She can also take the ball up the line, as she was doing in the back end of that match.

    We were all just marvelling at her serve. I think it is absolutely beautiful and the best in the women's game.

  7. Rybakina got rid of 'jitters' in semi-final

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    What a great performance!

    Elena Rybakina was gone for all money really in that third set, with Aryna Sabalenka not far away from that double break, but she started making those first-serve returns and they were absolutely crucial.

    She just continued to return really well and serve so beautifully. Full credit to her - she got all her jitters out in the semi-final.

    Sabalenka will go away with a lot of things to think about - she basically capitulated.

  8. Get Involved

    Click the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    I'm not surprised Elena won. Aryna showed a few flashes of brilliance in the second set, but Elena was the better player. She was more in control of shots, plus more composed and confident.

    Pradeep, India

  9. 'Rybakina's shots were singing out of the strings'

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Aryna Sabalenka really did capitulate.

    I felt that she really beat herself up in that final set and the minute that panic set in, she just steamrolled in the wrong direction.

    When you compared the techniques towards the back end of the match, Elena Rybakina was beautifully middling the ball and her shots were singing out of the strings. She handled that last game so well after going 0-15 down.

  10. 'Let's hope next year's trophy is definitely ours'

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    World number one Aryna Sabalenka, speaking on court after her defeat in the final: "I'm really speechless right now. I want to firstly congratulate Elena [Rybakina] on an incredible run, congratulations to you and your team on such an incredible achievement.

    "Thank you to everyone who makes this tournament possible. I love playing here and I love playing in front of you guys, thank you for your incredible support. I always look forward to coming and playing in front of you, let's hope next year is going to be a better year for me. I love you guys.

    "Of course, thank you to my team for always being there and for enduring me losing finals, but we do also win some so let's hope for the best. Let's hope that next year's trophy is definitely going to be ours, right?"

    Aryna Sabalenka smiles during the presentation ceremonyGetty Images

  11. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial CupGetty Images

    Aryna Sabalenka leaves the court and heads back to the locker room, while Elena Rybakina poses with the trophy for the mass of photographers on Rod Laver Arena.

    Here's what Sabalenka had to say earlier...

  12. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    More from Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina:

    "I want to say thank you to my team - without you, it wouldn't be possible. We had a lot of things going on and I'm glad we achieved this result. Hopefully we can keep on going strong this year."

  13. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina speaking on court after her final win over Aryna Sabalenka:

    "It's hard to find the words but I want to congratulate Aryna. She's had amazing results for a couple of years and I hope we're going to play many more finals together.

    "I want to say thank you to you [the crowd] for an incredible atmosphere. Your support kept us going. Thank you everyone who made this tournament possible. It really is the 'Happy Slam', I always enjoy coming here and playing in front of you guys."

    Elena Rybakina speaks next to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial CupGetty Images

  14. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    After a speech by runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina is called forward to collect the winner's trophy.

    We'll have quotes from both finalists shortly.

  15. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    Aryna Sabalenka sees another Grand Slam final slip by.

    Four major victories are more than almost the entire planet could dream of.

    But, after losing a fourth trophy match, she could have notched up so many more.

    Sabalenka sticks a towel over her head to cover her emotions while Rybakina jogs over to celebrate with her team.

    Aryna Sabalenka reactsGetty Images

  16. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Jennifer Capriati, a two-time Australian Open champion in 2001 and 2002, will present the trophies to the two finalists.

  17. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    The trophy presentation is just about to begin, led by former Grand Slam doubles champion Todd Woodbridge.

  18. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    Nerves of steel!

    The impudence with which Elena Rybakina swatted away the forehand for 30-15 was incredible.

    As was ignoring someone starting a Sabalenka chant just as she tossed the ball before sending down an ace on championship point.

    Extraordinary mentality. Rybakina answered all the questions.

  19. Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    While Elena Rybakina smiles and celebrates her victory on Rod Laver Arena, Aryna Sabalenka sits in her chair contemplating what has just happened.

    Sabalenka has won four major titles but she's had her fair share of Grand Slam heartbreak too and, having led 3-0 in the deciding set, this is another chapter to add to that story.

    Aryna Sabalenka shows dejection after her defeatGetty Images

  20. Rybakina wins Australian Open title

    Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Rybakina

    Elena Rybakina embraces her beaten opponent Aryna Sabalenka at the net and then heads straight over to her coaching and support team to celebrate her victory.

    It's a second major title for the 26-year-old, who won Wimbledon in 2022.

    Elena Rybakina is congratulated by her coaching staffGetty Images
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