- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Elena Rybakina Wins Australian Open Over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
The Kazakh tennis player claims her second Grand Slam title in a hard-fought final.
Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:31am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In a thrilling final at the 2026 Australian Open, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in straight sets to claim her second Grand Slam title.
Why it matters
Rybakina's victory over the top-ranked Sabalenka marks a significant milestone in her young career, solidifying her status as one of the rising stars in women's tennis. The win also continues Kazakhstan's emergence as a tennis powerhouse on the global stage.
The details
Rybakina, the 23-year-old Kazakh, overpowered the heavily favored Sabalenka, winning the match 6-4, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes. The victory comes less than two years after Rybakina's breakthrough triumph at Wimbledon in 2024, making her the first player from Kazakhstan to win multiple Grand Slam singles titles.
- The Australian Open final took place on January 31, 2026.
The players
Elena Rybakina
A 23-year-old professional tennis player from Kazakhstan who has now won two Grand Slam singles titles.
Aryna Sabalenka
The current world No. 1 women's tennis player from Belarus, who was the heavy favorite heading into the Australian Open final.
What they’re saying
“This is a dream come true. To beat the world No. 1 on this stage is an incredible feeling.”
— Elena Rybakina
“Congratulations to Elena, she played a great match. I'll be back stronger next time.”
— Aryna Sabalenka
What’s next
Rybakina will look to build on this victory and cement her status as one of the top players in women's tennis, while Sabalenka will aim to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking in the coming months.
The takeaway
Elena Rybakina's triumph over Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final underscores the rising prominence of Kazakhstani tennis on the global stage, as the 23-year-old adds a second Grand Slam title to her growing resume.
