MELBOURNE, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Elena Rybakina beat the two top-ranked players in the world to win the Australian Open and show that her quiet ruthlessness can propel her to number one and more Grand Slam glory. Proving it was no fluke, it was the second time in three months that big-serving Rybakina has beaten the world number one. "Last year I didn't start that well," said Rybakina, as she eyes a second Wimbledon title in June-July. Rybakina's tense victory over Sabalenka, having beaten Poland's second seed Swiatek in straight sets in the quarter-finals, was her 20th win in her last 21 matches. Rybakina won the first set but the powerful Belarusian struck back to win her first major title in three sets.
