Firepower showdown as Sabalenka takes on Rybakina in Australian Open final

Aryna Sabalenka. Pic/Getty Images; (right) Elena Rybakina. Pic/AFP

Fire meets fire when hard-hitting Aryna Sabalenka clashes with big-serving Elena Rybakina in the women's Australian Open final here on Saturday.

The showdown pits two players who are on rampaging form and yet to drop a set in Melbourne in the past fortnight. They know each other very well, having met 14 times previously, and it is a rematch of the 2023 title decider at Rod Laver Arena. The Belarusian Sabalenka prevailed on that occasion, fighting back from a set down to win her first Grand Slam crown. The World No. 1 won it again in 2024, but was denied a hat-trick last year when she was stunned in
the final by the American Madison Keys.

Fourth consecutive final

The meeting with the Kazakh Rybakina will be her fourth Melbourne final in a row, and she is expecting an almighty tussle. "Her shots are heavy, deep, flat balls. It's not easy to work with, but we have a great history," said the 27-year-old.

"She's an incredible player," she added of the Moscow-born Rybakina, whose only major title so far is Wimbledon in 2022.

"We had a lot of great battles, a lot of finals we played. I'm looking forward to battling this power," the top seed added with a smile.

Sabalenka goes into the final in scintillating form, having won all of her 11 matches in 2026 without dropping a set.

Peers-Gadecki retain crown

Meanwhile, wildcards John Peers and Olivia Gadecki became the first team to retain the Australian Open mixed-doubles title since 1988-89 when they outlasted French pair Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard on Friday. The Australians came through 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 on Rod Laver Arena to deny France a mixed doubles crown.

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Top seed Aryna Sabalenka's win-loss record against Elena Rybakina

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