Rybakina overpowers Sabalenka to win first Australian Open title

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL AS ELENA RYBAKINA BEATS ARYNA SABALENKA 6-4 4-6 6-4 RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 31, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA – See restrictions before use) ELENA RYBAKINA v ARYNA SABALENKA 6-4 4-6 6-4 1. PLAYERS BEING INTRODUCED AND WALKING ONTO COURT 2. PLAYERS POSING AT NET NEXT TO DAPHNE AKHURST MEMORIAL CUP TROPHY BEFORE MATCH 3. FORMER AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONS MARTINA NAVRATILOVA AND ANGELIQUE KERBER SPEAKING BEFORE MATCH 4. SABALENKA SERVING AT BREAK POINT IN THE OPENING GAME / RALLY ENDS WITH SABALENKA HITTING BALL WIDE / RYBAKINA WINS FIRST GAME TO INSTANTLY GO UP BY A BREAK 5. SABALENKA SERVING / SHORT RALLY ENDS WITH RYBAKINA DROP SHOT WINNER 6. RYBAKINA SERVING AT SET POINT / RALLY ENDS WITH SABALENKA HITTING BALL LONG 7. RYBAKINA SERVING AT BREAK POINT EARLY IN SECOND SET / RYBAKINA WINS POINT WITH FOREHAND WINNER 8. SABALENKA SERVING / ENTERTAINING RALLY ENDS WITH SABALENKA VOLLEY WINNER 9. CROWD APPLAUDING 10. REPLAY OF POINT 11. RYBAKINA SERVING AT SET POINTS TO SABALENKA / RALLY ENDS WITH RYBAKINA UNABLE TO RETURN A SABALENKA FOREHAND AS SABALENKA LEVELS THE MATCH AT ONE SET ALL 12. RYBAKINA SERVING AT BREAK POINT EARLY IN THE FINAL SET / SABALENKA HITS BACKHAND RETURN WINNER TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE FINAL SET AND GO A BREAK UP 13. SABALENKA SERVING AT BREAK POINT / RALLY ENDS WITH SABALENKA HITTING NET AS RYBAKINA BREAKS BACK 14. RYBAKINA SERVING AT BREAK POINT IN THE NEXT MATCH / SABALENKA HITS HER RETURN NARROWLY WIDE TO LOSE A CHANCE TO BREAK BACK AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MATCH 15. SABALENKA SERVING AT BREAK POINT / RALLY ENDS WITH SABALENKA HITTING NET AS RYBAKINA NOW BREAKS CLEAR OF HER OPPONENT TO TAKE CONTROL OF MATCH 16. RYBAKINA SERVING / RALLY ENDS WITH RYBAKINA FOREHAND WINNER 17. RYBAKINA SERVING ACE AT CHAMPIONSHIP POINT TO CLINCH TITLE 18. PLAYERS AT NET 19. RYBAKINA WAVING TO CROWD 20. NAVRATILOVA AND KERBER APPLAUDING 21. SABALENKA RECEIVING HER RUNNER UP TROPHY 22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OPEN RUNNER UP ARYNA SABALENKA, SAYING:     "Thank you. Of course, thank you to my team for always being there, for enjoying me losing finals [laughs]. But also sometimes we win them, so let's hope for the best. Let's hope that next year Daphne's going to be ours, right?" 23. RYBAKINA BEING ANNOUNCED AS AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION 24. RYBAKINA BEING AWARDED TROPHY BY FORMER AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION JENNIFER CAPRIATI 25. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION ELENA RYBAKINA, SAYING:     "I want to say thank you of course to you guys for such an incredible atmosphere. It was a battle and honestly your support kept us going. And thank you so much to Kazakhstan — I felt the support from that corner a lot. And yeah, thank you everyone who made this tournament possible. Tennis Australia, Craig (Tiley) of course, for making us feel so well here, and it's a really happy slam and I always enjoy coming here and playing in front of you guys." 26. SABALENKA AND RYBAKINA WALKING TOWARDS PRESS WITH THEIR TROPHIES 27. PLAYERS POSING WITH TROPHIES 28. VARIOUS OF RYBAKINA POSING WITH HER TROPHY STORY: Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous display to beat firm favourite Aryna Sabalenka to win a maiden Australian Open title on Saturday (January 31), turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago. Rybakina returned to the site of her 2023 defeat to complete an impressive 6‑4 4‑6 6-4 win and capture her second major trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to puncture Sabalenka's hardcourt aura. The 26-year-old capped a fortnight of relentless efficiency while largely flying under the radar, adding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a sparkling resume which also includes the WTA Finals crown the Kazakh won by stunning Sabalenka last year. In the first Grand Slam final since 2008 featuring players yet to drop a set, it was top seed Sabalenka who blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all guns blazing to break in the opening game and take control. The fifth seed's booming ball-striking caused all sorts of problems for twice champion Sabalenka, and Rybakina comfortably got to set point in the 10th game and finished it in style to send alarm bells ringing in her opponent's dugout. Arriving with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match victories from the last 48, four-times major winner Sabalenka found her groove and began the second set more positively, but Rybakina saved three breakpoints to hold for 1-1. A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout destined to be decided by whichever player held their nerve. Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing victory to add to her All England club triumph. The knockout blow was a thumping ace, following which the typically restrained Rybakina walked forward, smiled and pumped her fist before hugging her opponent and then celebrating with her team in the dugout. (Production: Mussab Al-Khairalla)

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