Australian Open Women's Final 2026: Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina

Want Ryba to win to get closer to Ayrna's numbers to make it a more competitive slam race, both have won every round in straights so something will obviously give, Ryba had the more difficult run. Quiz question, who was the WTA player to reach at least 4 Australian Open finals in a row, as this is now Saba's 4th Aussie final in a row, no googling.

Margaret Court?

Good to see the big 3 at the top of the rankings btw.

wasn't court, more recent.

Ryba breaks

have to turn the volume down watching Saba as it's too much for my eardrums when I'm using earphones.

poor outfit by Saba by the way, looks like a materinty dress

Ryba playing so well here.

really don't like on court coaching

Saba is rattled this set, Elena showing no fear

not even morillos are on Ayrna's side today

that's a good stat, winner of the first set has gone on to win 20 of the last 26 Aussie opens

bit like gaining pole position in F1, chances are once you're in front, you're going to win

Ryba's made so many nervous mistakes

Good match, but a bit boring with all these ATP style holds.

Holding with 57% 1st serve for Ryba, 3 df's, tells you she's feeling it under pressure but somehow ahead

Hingis was the last player to reach at least 4 aussie finals in a row, made 6 in total

If Ryba doesn't win this Vukov isn't getting any tonight.

We have a decider

both gone for a tactical toilet break

Chanda Rubin btw is a very good side commie

Jan 31, 2026 -- 9:27AM, mesmerised wrote:

that's a good stat, winner of the first set has gone on to win 20 of the last 26 Aussie opens

How many started as outsiders though ?

Saba breaks

about 8 were outsiders looking back

Elena's finnished.

Sorry, what I meant was how many of the 8 outsiders that took the first set in the last 26 finals went on to win the match ?

Saba bigger odds at 3-2 than going into this decider.

1.11    £60,604.21        £13,398.88
1.12    £19,684.04        £211,008.46
1.13    £23,360.76        £101,763.13
1.14    £19,322.74        £122,176.59
1.15    £19,243.16        £140,850.69

oh Ryba

Not sure Saba needed to go for that monster bh off the return

Seeders rapid today, making sure they're catching all the big telephone bettors.

good time for them to be active and not just let their bots run as during the graveyard shift.

Saba in full choke mode. Did not see this coming 3-0* to 3-4*

2000 Davenport 61 75 Hingis
2006 Mauresmo 61 62 Henin
2007 Serena 61 62 Sharapova (Maria really was favourite)
2011 Li Na LOST 63 36 36
2013 Li Na LOST 64 46 36
2016 Kerber 64 36 64 Serena
2018 Wozniacki 76 36 64 Halep
2019 Osaka 76 57 64
2023 Rybakina LOST 64 36 46
2025 Keys 63 26 75 Sabalenka

7 outsiders who took the first set, went on to win

for a great player like Sabalenka, she sure gets nervous during big Slam matches.

2023 shouldn't be bolded

Saba has bottled this

Zverev 2 sets up v Thiem at the US Open was the biggest bottle job I've seen

I remember that 2007 mug market, just because Serena had been out of sorts for a while.

You never know with Saba. Might donk the next 2 games to lose or go on a heater for 3 games and be doing a winning speech in no time ! I hope Ryba wins as she's such a lovely character

Jan 31, 2026 -- 10:51AM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

I remember that 2007 mug market, just because Serena had been out of sorts for a while.

It was insane. Crazy all the way though right, mental prices versus Petrova too iirc.

Saba's nice as well she just looks like a brute you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley

alright, if it happens, how will Ryba celebrate?

a) like winning the first round of 's-Hertogenbosch?
b) with a smile
c) full Ana Ivanovic at Roland Garros 2008 style by climbing into the stands?

d) with a smile and a little fist pump?

no need to climb the stands the coaches are court level

D, and some hugs with the coaches !

true

3-0* to 3*-5 !

If it goes 4-5*, will Ryba hold ?

yes

I met her last year, so I'm feeling somewhat nervous for her, she's so lovely

You broke your restraining order again Angela ?

Lucky you didn't get a beating from Vukov.

Shot Ryba !!

And again !!!

and again.

Rybaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!

You'd think she just won Tashkent FFS

people backing her at 1.1 at MP showing more emotion about their won bet than Ryba winning her 2nd Slam.

mug365 ending the stream straight away as usual, can't enjoy the tame celebrations

they want you to bet, not watch victory speeches.

I know, what mugs

anyone see that look Saba gave her coaching team after match point, if looks could kill

Always the coaching teams fault, they played some bad shots into the net !

Jan 31, 2026 -- 10:53AM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

d) with a smile and a little fist pump?

winning selection.

Hope you guys made some wettquottens and enjoyed that match, I lost a few but very happy with the winner !

Jan 31, 2026 -- 10:54AM, Angela Rebecchi wrote:

D, and some hugs with the coaches !

Do I win something for this at least

I won 22 euros, not quite the rollercoaster of yesterday.

very good prediction that.

Jan 31, 2026 -- 11:09AM, TheCarambaExperience wrote:

I won 22 euros, not quite the rollercoaster of yesterday.

Enough for a lovely lunch to celebrate Ryba !

wooooooo, everything went to plan

true. would have preferred a Heiniken and a bag of doritos to celebrate Jess, but maybe US Open instead.

I wonder what Putin is thinking.

was listening to this great song during the match

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lWwBslWqg&list=RDC3lWwBslWqg&

where's her sister?

can you believe such a mug player turned out be such a GOAT coach?
                               
28‑Aug‑2006    Como CH    Clay    R32    UNR    176    (7)Federico Luzzi [ITA] d. (WC)Vukov    6-3 6-2                                   
25‑Jul‑2005    Recanati CH    Hard    R32    UNR    407    Josselin Ouanna [FRA] d. (WC)Vukov    6-1 6-0                                   
11‑Jul‑2005    Rimini CH    Clay    R32    UNR    98    (2)Agustin Calleri [ARG] d. (WC)Vukov    6-1 6-1                                   
19‑Jul‑2004    Recanati CH    Hard    R32    UNR    397    Francesco Piccari [ITA] d. (WC)Vukov    6-0 6-1                                   
5‑Jul‑2004    San Benedetto CH    Clay    R32    UNR    226    (7)Giorgio Galimberti [ITA] d. (WC)Vukov    6-1 6-1                                   
11‑Aug‑2003    San Benedetto CH    Clay    R32    UNR    177    (6)Marc Lopez [ESP] d. (WC)Vukov    6-0 6-1

Least surprising turn of events ever. Seems like Saba goes from break up to break down in deciding sets an inordinate amount of times

Once again key point performance was what counted. Ryba far better on the bps

Ryba will be back to mugging after this as well. Won’t win another tournament for ages nap and there’ll be some shocking losses as well no doubt

She doesn't give a monkeys about tin pots tournaments, neither do most of the top players, they just try to prime themselves for the slams, warm up tournies are just that, warm ups.

I think some players celebrations are a bit much, collapsing on the floor in floods of tears, but Rybakina is just way too understated, it's always nice to see a little emotion when a player wins.

Jan 31, 2026 -- 11:28AM, mesmerised wrote:

She doesn't give a monkeys about tin pots tournaments, neither do most of the top players, they just try to prime themselves for the slams, warm up tournies are just that, warm ups.

that'll be why saba won brisbane then.

Doesn't matter if she did or not, they still don't care about them do they. It's a tin pot 500 warm up event a week before a slam, no need to tank it as there's enough recovery time, but she would not lose sleep if she lost. The final loss today however, same as any other top player, will scar them for some time.