Elena Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Saturday.
She finished the match with an ace to cap a third-set comeback and a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Sabalenka.
What happened?
Elena Rybakina's low-key celebration was symbolic of her understated run through the tournament.
She broke in the first game and took the first set, then rallied after losing the second set and going down 3-0 in the third.
She won five straight games to regain control and secure the win.
Career change
A win over Sabalenka at the season-ending WTA Finals has changed Elena Rybakina's career trajectory.
She has the most match wins on tour since Wimbledon, and is now on a roll of 20 wins from 21 matches.
Elena Rybakina is 10-0 in her last 10 matches against Top 10 players, and she'll return to No. 3 in the rankings.
Coaching team
She paid tribute to her coach, Stefano Vukov, who spent time under suspension last year by the women's tour.
Vukov received a silver plate from the tournament organizers for being the champion's coach.
Elena Rybakina has been working with Vukov since 2019 and finds it helpful to hear his constant stream of technical advice.
She admitted getting tight and needing almost a half-hour from her first match point to her match-winning point in a semifinal win over Jessica Pegula.
Elena Rybakina's results dipped after her Wimbledon win in 2022, but she didn't reach another major final until this tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka went on to win another three majors, including back-to-back triumphs in Australia and the 2024 and ’25 victories at the U.S. Open.
Elena Rybakina's win gives her a kind of relief and a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.
Kazakhstan's flag was unfurled on the court at Rod Laver Arena after Elena Rybakina had paraded the trophy around and posed for photos with her team.
Elena Rybakina finished off last year with a title at the WTA Finals in November.
She started the new year with a major championship, and hopes to carry this momentum throughout the season.