On a mild Melbourne evening, Aryna Sabalenka—competing in her fourth straight Australian Open final and already a two-time champion here—fell just short of a fifth Grand Slam title, losing to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.
The victory was a significant return to form for the world number five Rybakina, who hadn’t won a major since her 2022 Wimbledon triumph over Ons Jabeur. This year in Melbourne, she didn’t drop a single set until the final, powering past Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
For Sabalenka, the match was a tough emotional blow. Even on an off day, the fierce competitor used her formidable power to build a 3–0 lead in the deciding set, only to lose the next five games as Rybakina closed out the win.
Sabalenka remained gracious and lighthearted afterward, starting with, “I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible run and incredible tennis. Congrats to you and your team on such an achievement.” She thanked the crowd, saying, “I always look forward to playing in front of you,” and joked with her team, “Thank you for enjoying me losing finals. But sometimes we win them, too, so let’s hope for the best. Next year will definitely be ours, right?”
A composed Rybakina also thanked the fans, saying, “Thank you for the incredible atmosphere. Your support kept us going. Thanks to everyone who makes this tournament possible—it really is the ‘Happy Slam.’” She added, “Without my team, this wouldn’t be possible. We’ve been through a lot, and I’m glad we achieved this. Hopefully we can keep going strong this year.”
Join us tomorrow for the men’s final, where Carlos Alcaraz will take on Novak Djokovic—marking Djokovic’s first major final since facing Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Elena Rybakina winning her first Australian Open title designed to sound like questions from real fans
General Beginner Questions
Q Did Elena Rybakina really win the Australian Open
A Yes She won the womens singles title at the 2024 Australian Open
Q Who did she beat in the final
A She defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling threeset final 63 62
Q Is this her first Grand Slam title
A No this is her second Grand Slam title She won her first at Wimbledon in 2022
Q What country does she represent
A She represents Kazakhstan She was born in Moscow Russia but switched to represent Kazakhstan in 2018
Q How old is she
A She is 24 years old
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q What was special about her path to the final
A Her draw was incredibly tough She had to beat former world No 1 players like Iga witek and Victoria Azarenka to get there
Q How did her powerful game match up against Sabalenkas
A It was a classic bighitter showdown Rybakinas serve was a major weaponshe hit a tournamenthigh 49 aces Her composure and ability to absorb Sabalenkas power in the key moments made the difference
Q What does this win do for her ranking
A It moves her up to a new careerhigh of World No 4 She was seeded 22nd at the tournament because Wimbledon points from her 2022 win were not counted last year
Q Has she now beaten all the other current Grand Slam champions
A With this tournament she has notable wins over Iga witek Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur This solidifies her as a top contender on all surfaces
Q Whats the significance of winning a hard court Grand Slam
A It proves she is not