Melbourne, Jan. 31 -- Down 0-3 in the deciding set, most players would have felt the weight of the moment, but Elena Rybakina showed why she is a two-time Grand Slam champion. With nerves of steel and precision timing, the Kazakh World No. 5 mounted an extraordinary comeback to defeat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and claim the Australian Open 2026 women's singles crown at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, on Saturday.
Rybakina's turnaround was a masterclass in tactical intelligence and mental fortitude. Facing a commanding lead from the Belarusian, she neutralized Sabalenka's blistering groundstrokes with deep, well-placed returns and selective aggression. Two consecutive breaks of serve in the decider completely shifted momentum, l...