2026 Australian Open Final: Sabalenka (1) v. Rybakina (5)

[spystud]

Let’s do this thing, this is what we wanted. We ride.

 

[spystud]

@ibbi, no women haters here.

 

[junior74]

May the one with less fillers win!

I guess we'll need another miracle for that to happen - but God has saved them all for The Son.

 

[bullfan]

No Poll???

 

[spystud]

Honestly, does a poll matter?

 

[spystud]

I’ll do it, but no one cares.

 

[ND-13]

Let us hope Elena wins !

 

[Martin J]

Will be cheering for Rybakina, hope she finally ends a long-lasting drought.

 

[spystud]

Poll up, vote for Musetti.

 

[MichaelNadal]

QueenAlinka

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Thanks @spystud for the thread.

Voted Sabalenka in 2. If it goes to a 3rd set though I give it Rybakina.

 

[dking68]

Predicted her before the start of the tournament - Rybakina in 3

 

[tennis_pro]

Potentially the best final on the women's side in ages, both Rybakina and Sabalenka are in top form (no sets lost for either before the final), the h2h is very close, Rybakina won their last match (WTA finals) and they basically went win for win since like 2022. Sabalenka is the favorite obviously, but Rybakina can definitely cause the upset.

Sabalenka in 3 is my guess, but rooting for Rybakina. This could be very close.

 

[Hitman]

Cheering for Rybakina winning her 1st AO, but Sabalenka is the favorite

 

[D-Lite]

Rybakina on 1 major while Swiatek has 6 and Sabalenka has 4 is understandable due to injury/illness but as far as talent goes is ludicrous. Hopefully Rybakina takes this so we have a bunch of multiple time major champions on the ladies' side.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Sabalenka. She's the player of this age and she has not reached her full potential. Her performance throughout this AO has been largely magnificent, and she seems more determined than ever to claim what she likely sees as her majors title. If Sabalenka remains in the zone seen for two weeks, Rybakina will suffer mightily.

 

[smoledman]

Saba because she's the best and it'll give massive heartburn to certain people.

 

[Enceladus]

My prediction is that Rybakina will win the final. She had tougher opponents than Sabalenka in the last two rounds and is riding a similar game wave to at the YEC. However, what Elena needs to improve is hitting her first serve, which practically disappeared at the ending of the 2nd set against Pegula.

 

[NoleFam]

I missed the SFs but am definitely watching this one. I was rooting for Pegula but a Sabalenka/Rybakina rematch in the final is pretty tantalizing. This could go either way.

 

[tennis24x7]

Poll up, vote for Musetti.

I love that option, but voted for Rybakina, someone has to curb Sabs antics a little.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

No.

 

[tudwell]

Those poor tennis balls...

Should be a good one. Both women in razor-sharp form.

 

[bw114]

Definitely the ideal outcome for the final from a viewer's perspective! Pulling for Sabs, really think reclaiming this title off the back of winning the USO will do a lot for the scar tissue from last year's other three slams. Wouldn't be the end of the world if Rybakina won her second slam though...completely agree with @ScentOfDefeat that she is far too talented to not have won multiple slams.

With that being said I think I like Sabalenka in three here...I trust her more to show up in a slam final. For all that's been said about Sabalenka, while she certainly isn't great at front-running a match, but she's really quite excellent at digging in and giving it all she has when the chips are down. She didn't really choke last year's AO final, Keys was just nuclear that day. The chokes come much more often when she's playing a Gauff-type character who will make her play the extra ball every time. In pure ball-striking battle, I'll favor Sabalenka against anyone on tour, but it really is who shows up on the given day.

Given how lackluster both sides of this tournament's draws have been, this final and the likely Alcaraz-Sinner final should be nice turnarounds. Excited for them both!

 

[bezs]

Both players lost their last appearance at the Aussie Open final, so whoever loses will be twice the bridesmaid at Melbourne Park.

Go Rybakina!

 

[Waves]

Rybakina in 3 hopefully, but I’d take 2 plus a Sabalenka meltdown. Having said that, Sabalenka looks strong.

 

[Airspun]

Ryba in 2 easy

 

[zvelf]

Sabalenka has dropped 36 games so far in the tournament and Rybakina has dropped 38, but Mertens, Swiatek, and Pegula in total are much stronger competition than current Mboko, Jovic, and Svitolina. Sabalenka has yet to face a top 10 player in the draw. Rybakina has beaten 2 in the top 6. Sabalenka is the slight favorite, but it could easily go either way.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Hoping for a three setter like '23 final.

Rybakina for me, I need her to be multi slam champ

 

[spystud]

Well kids, only about 5.5 more hours.

 

[Oval_Solid]

its raining?

 

[spystud]

Little less than an hour, wake up!

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Rybakina please, I’m so sick of Sabalenka

 

[tennis_pro]

Alter the epic mens semis this final got overshadowed. Could be a good match.

 

[spystud]

T-minus 10 minutes.

 

[Moose Malloy]

whoah Kerber joining the ESPN desk.

 

[spystud]

This is gonna be fun.

 

[Hitman]

Lets play some ball

 

[MilosRaonicFan]

Those forehand returns. Wow

 

[Hitman]

Rybakina - The one girl who can legit overpower Sabalenka

 

[Hitman]

Break!

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Saba already broken

 

[bluetrain4]

Rybakina breaks right away.

 

[junior74]

Sab's Tower of Tandil toss is a spectacle.

Break to start! Come on Ryb!

 

[Lozo1016]

If Rybakina wins this, then I'll consider her the best player in the world for the first time. She has always been looking up at Iga and Aryna, but winning WTA Finals and then Australian Open back to back would put her at the top of the mountain for now IMO.

 

[Hitman]

Sabalenka, you should better, your power games does not work against Rybakina, because she can do the exact same thing back to you.

 

[roysid]

Looks like rybakina wants to win it for her coach.
Else she might have to sell potatoes in Russia

 

[Enceladus]

Rybakina - The one girl who can legit overpower Sabalenka

The fact that Elena had problems with Pegula in SF doesn't mean that Elena is not in good form, but the matchup against Pegula doesn't suit her very much.

 

[Mike Sams]

Does anybody know why the roof is closed?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The post match ceremony is gonna be so juicy in this one

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sabalenka holds. Let’s see how this next service game goes for Rybakina.