47 aces, a hefty payday and more from Rybakina’s memorable two weeks Down Under

The 2026 season on the WTA Tour opened with a familiar scene: Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka meeting again on the sport’s biggest stage.

Just two months after their championship showdown at the 2025 WTA Finals, the two met again with another major title on the line, this time at the Australian Open.

https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2017759705549181368?s=20

Just like Riyadh, Rybakina prevailed, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday in 2 hours and 18 minutes for her second career Grand Slam title. Rybakina earned $2.75 million.

It almost had seemed that this moment and feel was going to be Sabalenka’s as the World No. 1 held a 3-0 lead in the third set. This came after a pivotal hold and break to close the second. However, Rybakina stormed back and won six of the final seven games to secure the championship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DULJDbwkf1R/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Rybakina bookmarked this Grand Slam chapter with an ace, her most potent weapon. Throughout the tournament, Rybakina struck 47 aces, just under seven per match in Melbourne, building on her status as the tour’s 2025 leader in the category.

Saturday’s win was a full-circle moment for Rybakina, who avenged the 2023 loss to Sabalenka on the same court. Interestingly, she became the first No. 5 seed to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sabalenka’s win against Rybakina in the 2023 final.

Additionally, Rybakina’s also the fourth women’s singles player since 1975 to beat the No. 1 and No. 2 on way to the championship at the Australian Open. She beat No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.

(Source: WTA Tour)