Aryna Sabalenka bids to regain her Australian Open crown as she faces Elena Rybakina in a big-hitting rematch of their dramatic final from three years ago.
The world No 1 was stunned by Madison Keys in last year’s final but is looking to win her third title in four years after reaching another final in Melbourne, having beaten Rybakina to win her first in 2023.
Both have been in dominant form this tournament, with fifth seed Rybakina moved into her first grand slam final in three years by continuing her winning streak against top-10 players.
Sabalenka will be bidding for her fifth grand slam title overall after continuing her excellent consistency with a seventh hard-court grand slam final in a row, but Rybakina claimed a statement win over the world No 1 at the WTA Finals at the end of last season.
After one of the most dramatic days in Australian Open history, tomorrow – one way or another – history will be made as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet with two career-defining achievements on the line.
Follow live updates from the Australian Open finals weekend, below
Australian Open final set as Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina book rematch
Three years on, Elena Rybakina is back in the Australian Open final, where she will face the woman who beat her that day in the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Their three-set battle in 2023 was an instant classic, and changed so much for Sabalenka. That was her first grand slam title, and she returns now as the dominant No 1 and four-time grand slam champion.
Rybakina has not been in a major final since then but she is coming back into her best form. She beat Sabalenka in the WTA Finals in November in a brilliant performance, showing she can beat the No 1.
Aryna Sabalenka v Elena Rybakina start time
The Australian Open women’s final will begin from after 8:30am GMT (UK time) on Saturday 31 January. It will follow the women’s and men’s doubles finals on Rod Laver Arena.
The final will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK as well as online on Discovery+.
In the US, it will be shown live on ESPN and Tennis Channel.
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Aryna Sabalenka bids to regain her Australian Open crown as she faces Elena Rybakina in a big-hitting rematch of their dramatic final from three years ago.
The world No 1 was stunned by Madison Keys in last year’s final but is looking to win her third title in four years after reaching another final in Melbourne, having beaten Rybakina to win her first in 2023.
Both have been in dominant form this tournament, and Sabalenka and Rybakina are the first players to advance to a grand slam women’s final without dropping a set since Serena and Venus Williams in 2008.
Fifth seed Rybakina moved into her first grand slam final in three years by continuing her winning streak against top-10 players with wins against Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.
Rybakina may have lost to Sabalenka three years ago, but the 2022 Wimbledon winner claimed a statement win over the world No 1 at the WTA Finals at the end of last season.
Sabalenka will be bidding for her fifth grand slam title overall after continuing her excellent consistency with a seventh hard-court grand slam final in a row.
