The world No 1 was stunned by Madison Keys in last year’s final but is looking to win her third title in four years after reaching another final in Melbourne, having beaten Rybakina to win her first in 2023.
Both have been in dominant form this tournament, with fifth seed Rybakina moved into her first grand slam final in three years by continuing her winning streak against top-10 players.
Sabalenka will be bidding for her fifth grand slam title overall after continuing her excellent consistency with a seventh hard-court grand slam final in a row, but Rybakina claimed a statement win over the world No 1 at the WTA Finals at the end of last season.
Aryna Sabalenka 4-5 Elena Rybakina*Over to Rybakina. Sabalenka has not dropped a set yet at this year’s Australian Open but needs to find the break to keep that record alive.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:18
*Aryna Sabalenka 3-5 Elena RybakinaRybakina saves the first with an ace. Then produces another first serve out wide that does not come back!
Two break points saved. The first serve arrived just when she needed to. Rybakina is winning basically every point when she gets the first serve in.
Sabalenka, on the stretch, can’t return the latest one. Sabalenka goes after the second serve down game point, but nets on the backhand.
Massive hold from Rybakina.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:16
Aryna Sabalenka 3-4 Elena Rybakina*Here comes Sabalenka! Great depth to the baseline, before taking a forehand on the rise to power the crosscourt winner past Rybakina and get to 15-30.
Rybakina’s first serve remains under 50 per cent and Sabalenka will get a look at the second… Rybakina fires wide on the backhand and it brings two break points.
Pressure on Rybakina now.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:14
Aryna Sabalenka 3-4 Elena Rybakina*Sabalenka takes a deep breath after winning a backhand exchange to get to game point, then puts the serve down the middle for an ace.
Rybakina, to be fair, hasn’t been able to get a read on her serve since the opening game.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:10
*Aryna Sabalenka 2-4 Elena RybakinaWonderful from Rybakina, so destructive yet so smooth. She whips the backhand past Sabalenka to move 30-0.
Then, she goes one better, finding the angled backhand winner after Sabalenka hung up the defensive shot.
In response, Sabalenka finds the backhand winner down the line.
Rybakina, taking a bit off her first serve, then hits out on the forehand and Sabalenka is back in the game.
The second serve out wide from Rybakina is superb. Sabalenka had to try and hit it on the backhand from above her shoulder.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:07
Aryna Sabalenka 2-3 Elena Rybakina*Sabalenka fires an ace to claim the love-hold. She started the match serving exceptionally well, it was the returns of Rybakina that forced the break. For now, Sabalenka is managing to keep everything under control.
(AFP via Getty Images)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:03
*Aryna Sabalenka 1-3 Elena RybakinaRybakina has got through the first nine points on serve while losing just one of those points – and that’s despite landing just three first serves.
Sabalenka makes a string of errors on the return.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 09:00
Aryna Sabalenka 1-2 Elena Rybakina*Rybakina scorches the forehand return inside-in. This is a major test for Sabalenka now, either to try and ride out this storm or overturn it.
She fires a forehand winner and then survives as Rybakina lined up the backhand return down the line.
Sabalenka fires the ace to hold and get some relief.
(AP)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 08:55
*Aryna Sabalenka 0-2 Elena RybakinaRybakina fires the ace on the opening point. No wonder Sabalenka is already looking a little rattled. A couple of errors from Sabalenka bring up 40-0, then she fires out on the return.
(REUTERS)
(AP)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 08:52
BREAK! Aryna Sabalenka 0-1 Elena Rybakina*Remarkable start from Rybakina. Sabalenka made five or six first-serves in a row but Rybakina returned with interest.
On deuce, Sabalenka hits out and brings up a second break point. She can’t find the first-serve this time, and Rybakina’s return forces Sabalenka wide on the forehand.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 08:49
