March 16, 2026 9:32 AM

Sabalenka ends Indian Wells hoodoo with epic three-set victory over Rybakina

World number one Aryna Sabalenka finally conquered her Indian Wells demons on Sunday, defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6 6-3 7-6(6) in a breathless final to claim the desert title for the first time and secure her 23rd career crown. The victory was sweet redemption for the Belarusian, who had lost her previous two Indian Wells finals, including to Rybakina herself in 2023, and had begun the year with a defeat to the Kazakh 26-year-old in the Australian Open final in January. Rybakina, a two-time Gra...

February 2, 2026 8:51 PM

New Melbourne queen Elena Rybakina happy to find highest level again

Elena Rybakina said she was delighted to reach the level shown by rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek again, having beaten the dominant duo of women's tennis on the way to claiming her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday. The 26-year-old Kazakh dismantled world number one Sabalenka 6‑4 4‑6 6-4 in the final on Rod Laver Arena to add another major trophy to her cabinet following her breakthrough Wimbledon triumph in 2022. It followed a fluent quarter-final victory o...

January 30, 2026 1:01 PM

Aryna Sabalenka primed for Elena Rybakina rematch with eyes on third Australian Open crown

Aryna Sabalenka will bid for a third Australian Open trophy in four years on Saturday when the Belarusian collides with fellow power-hitter Elena Rybakina in a heavyweight rematch of their title showdown three years ago. The dynamics have shifted since Sabalenka's breakthrough win in 2023, the 27-year-old now the clear favourite following three more Grand Slam triumphs and Rybakina yet to win another major after her 2022 Wimbledon success. The pair know each other well having met 14 times on t...

January 30, 2026 11:12 AM

Australian Open: Jessica Pegula undone by evening conditions but has no doubts about calibre

Jessica Pegula said playing her first evening session match at this year's Australian Open had thrown her off her game early in her semi-final defeat by fifth seed Elena Rybakina. The 31-year-old American arrived for the clash on Rod Laver Arena having not lost a set throughout the tournament but wilted under the lights of the showcourt on Thursday before going down fighting 6-3 7-6(7). "I've been playing every match during the day. It's playing much hotter, much faster. Getting out there it w...

January 30, 2026 10:03 AM

Supreme Sabalenka and Rybakina set up Australian Open final showdown

Aryna Sabalenka swept to her fourth successive Australian Open final with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Thursday in a semi-final overshadowed by geopolitical tension and will play familiar rival Elena Rybakina next. Rybakina set up a blockbuster rematch of the 2023 final at Melbourne Park by overcoming American Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-6(7), as the Russian-born Kazakh ramped up her own hunt for a second major title following her 2022 Wimbledon triumph. Top-seeded Belarusian S...

January 28, 2026 10:25 AM

Elena Rybakina downs Iga Swiatek to move into Australian Open semi-finals

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina booked her place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a dominant second set display to hand six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek a 7-5 6-1 defeat at Melbourne Park. Looking to lift the trophy for the first time, the 28-year-old will take on American Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday's final. Rybakina fired 11 aces and 26 winners as she ended Swiatek's career Grand Slam bid on Rod Laver Arena, winning eight of the last nine games to underline h...

November 9, 2025 2:07 PM

Red-hot Rybakina scorches Sabalenka for maiden WTA Finals crown

Elena Rybakina capped a flawless week at the WTA Finals by stunning world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-6(0) in the final on Saturday for her first trophy in the season-ending championships and a record $5.235 million in prize money. The last stop of this season's WTA Tour kicked off with four different Grand Slam champions in the field, but ultimately went to a player who did not even reach the quarter-finals of a major in 2025 and was the last to qualify with a win in Ningbo and arun to th...

August 18, 2025 9:49 AM

Swiatek downs Rybakina, faces Paolini in Cincinnati Open final

A ruthless Iga Swiatek won 10 of the last 13 games to beat Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-3 on Sunday and reach her first Cincinnati Open final after losing in the penultimate stage of the U.S. Open tune-up event in each of the last two years. In the other semi-final, Italy's Jasmine Paolini was a 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3 winner over unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova. Third seed Swiatek had her hands full in the early stages of the 98-minute match but took advantage of a sudden dip in Rybakina's form to win f...

August 16, 2025 9:16 AM

Sabalenka stunned by Rybakina in Cincinnati, Alcaraz into semis

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was dismantled 6-1 6-4 on Friday by Elena Rybakina who powered into her first Cincinnati Open semi-final with a display of clinical serving. The Kazakh ninth seed delivered a brilliant performance to secure her seventh career win over a top-ranked player and set up a blockbuster clash with Poland's Iga Swiatek in a showdown of Wimbledon champions. Rybakina fired 11 aces throughout the match, earning an impressive 81% of points on her first serve, while saving...

June 2, 2025 9:33 AM

Swiatek digs herself out of deep hole, Alcaraz powers on at French Open

Four-time champion Iga Swiatek clawed her way back from the brink to reach the French Open quarter-finals by defeating her claycourt nemesis Elena Rybakina while men's title holder Carlos Alcaraz also went through after a tough workout on Sunday. Fifth seed Swiatek looked out of sorts as she trailed 6-1 2-0 on Court Philippe Chatrier, leaving the crowd stunned. But Swiatek found her groove and some grit to prevail 1-6 6-3 7-5. Her final opponent from last year, Jasmine Paolini, was on the wron...