Melbourne will crown a new champion at the Australian Open 2026 women’s singles final, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka set to face Elena Rybakina in a blockbuster showdown at Melbourne Park.
The championship match marks a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final and brings together two of the game’s most dominant hard-court players. Neither Sabalenka nor Rybakina has dropped a set on the road to the season’s first Grand Slam final, underlining their commanding form.
Sabalenka returns to the final for a fourth consecutive year, continuing an extraordinary run in Melbourne. The top seed is chasing her third Australian Open title in four editions, a feat that would see her join Martina Hingis and Martina Navratilova in an elite group of multiple-time champions in the Open Era.
The Belarusian has carried her imperious 2025 form into the new season, showing little sign of vulnerability throughout the tournament. Her semi-final victory over Elina Svitolina further reinforced her status as the player to beat.
Standing in her way is Rybakina, who is seeking her maiden Australian Open crown and a first Grand Slam title since her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. The Kazakhstani arrives in the final with confidence, having defeated Sabalenka in the WTA Finals in Riyadh last season.
Rybakina booked her place in the final with a hard-fought win over Jessica Pegula, edging a tense tiebreak to continue a strong resurgence up the WTA rankings. Her composed performance under pressure highlighted the form that has carried her through the draw.
Saturday’s final will be the 15th meeting between the two rivals, with Sabalenka holding a narrow 8–6 advantage in their head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter ended in Rybakina’s favour at the WTA Finals, while their only previous meeting at Melbourne Park came in the 2023 final, where Sabalenka rallied from a set down to claim her first Grand Slam singles title.
Both players are renowned for their power and aggressive baseline games, traits that have made hard courts their most successful surface. Of their 14 meetings, 11 have come on hard courts, with Rybakina holding a slight 6–5 edge.
With history, rivalry and legacy on the line, the Australian Open 2026 women’s singles final promises a fitting climax to the tournament.
