sports
January 30, 2026
Rybakina poses threat to Sabalenka’s bid for legendary status in Australian Open final
World No 1 is on the verge of a fifth grand slam title, but former Wimbledon champion has proved she can cause problems
TL;DR
- Aryna Sabalenka has reached the Australian Open final for the fourth consecutive year, dominating her matches without dropping a set.
- Sabalenka's game has evolved, showing improvement at the net and with drop shots, in addition to her strong baseline play.
- Her opponent in the final is Elena Rybakina, one of the few players capable of matching Sabalenka's power.
- Rybakina also reached the final without dropping a set and recently defeated Sabalenka in the end-of-season finals in Riyadh.
- Rybakina has had a tougher path to the final, defeating top players like Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.
- Sabalenka is aiming for her third Australian Open title and could tie Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova on the all-time slam titles list.
- Rybakina is seeking her second grand slam title, following her Wimbledon triumph.
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