Elena Rybakina came from 3-0 down in the deciding set to defeat Aryna Sabalenka and clinch the Australian Open title, reeling off five consecutive games to serve out the championship.
For Sabalenka, it was a fourth defeat in eight grand slam finals and a second consecutive loss in Melbourne, following last year's collapse against Madison Keys. The world No 1 has nonetheless reached seven straight hard-court slam finals, a feat previously achieved only by Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis.
"It's tennis: today you are a loser, tomorrow you are a winner," Sabalenka said. She conceded she had regrets after a forehand into the net from mid-court handed Rybakina a decisive break, but insisted her performance was an improvement. "I was still there, I was ready to fight," she said.
Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, has now won 20 of her last 21 matches and 10 in a row against top-10 players. She celebrated quietly, with coach Stefano Vukov back in her box after his suspension from the tour was lifted in August.
Sabalenka praised her opponent as the better player. "She goes for her shots without any doubt," she said. "I still had opportunities, but the level from her was incredible."
