Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Tips - Sabalenka tipped for Australian Open glory

Elena Rybakina is looking to secure only her second Grand Slam crown after triumphing at Wimbledon back in 2022. 

The pair have met 14 times in total, with Sabalenka winning eight times and Rybakina winning six matches. 

Aryna Sabalenka Form

 

Aryna Sabalenka has been perfect at the Australian Open in 2026, going across the entirety of the tournament without dropping a single set. 

Her run of six wins at the tournament coupled with victory in Brisbane prior to the Australian Open means she is yet to taste defeat this year, winning all 11 of her outings. Her run has also helped her stretch her impressive streak on hard courts to 273 wins and just 98 defeats. 

While Sabalenka has been perfect so far, I do not predict that she will win to nil in the final. Elena Rybakina has been excellent and has more than enough to seriously trouble Sabalenka. Indeed, six defeats in 14 matches for Sabalenka should show that Rybakina is more than a match for her. 

While I do predict that Sabalenka will secure the trophy, I do not perceive her running away with the win. I am backing Sabalenka to secure a 2-1 victory in the final as she notches her third Australian Open title in four attempts. 

Like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina has gone through the entirety of the Australian Open without dropping a single set in a stunning run that has seen her once again showcase her quality. 

Impressively, Rybakina has already dumped out a number of players that were fancied to secure the trophy, with Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula eliminated in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively. 

Rybakina's form is such that I believe she will really test Sabalenka in the final. While Sabalenka is the better of the pair, Rybakina has never looked to shy away from the challenge, securing six wins in their 14 meetings. While I do not back her to complete a perfect run at the Australian Open in 2026, I do believe she will bow out of the competition as the first player to take a set from Sabalenka this year.