Elena Rybakina will meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final after beating Jessica Pegula in straight sets in Melbourne

J. Pegula vs E. Rybakina | Australian Open
Women's Singles | Semi-final | 29.01.2026 | Rod Laver Arena
Finished
J. Pegula (6)
E. Rybakina (5)
3
67
6
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Australian Open Women's Singles -

Rybakina wins 'epic' second set to advance to final against Sabalenka

29/01/2026 at 13:44

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RYBAKINA STATS
  • In the last decade, Elena Rybakina is the third player to reach the final of the WTA Finals and the Australian Open Women’s Singles in the subsequent year after Aryna Sabalenka and Caroline Wozniacki.
  • Rybakina is the fourth active player to win her first two semi-final matches at the Australian Open Women’s Singes after Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka.
  • Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Women’s Singles Final at Australian Open 2026 will be the first Grand Slam final between two players who are yet to drop a set since Wimbledon 2008 between the Williams sisters.
All stats via Opta.
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RYBAKINA REACTS TO A NERVY FINALE AND MEETING SABALENKA IN REPEAT OF 2023 FINAL
"It means a lot ... It was such a battle. It was an epic second set and I’m really glad I managed to win it. Jessica played so well in the second set. I’m just super happy to be in the final."
On the nerves of missing three match points but prevailing in a close tight-break: "I don’t think it was a little bit (nervy) for my team and also for me it was very, very stressful. I had an epic tie break here a couple of years ago and lost it, so I think it was the longest women’s played and a little flashback came, you know.
"But I’m super happy in the end it turned my way and (I'm) looking forward to playing on Saturday (in the final).
On facing Sabalenka in a re-match of the AO final three years ago: "It was a great battle we played (in 2023). Just in the end, she played a bit better and she won that match, very deserved.
"I want to enjoy this for sure, the final, and hopefully I'm going to serve better than today and it’s going to help me, then we will see.
"But yeah, I’m so excited to play (the final)."
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Watch: 'Too much firepower' from Rybakina as she books place in final against Sabalenka

Video credit: TNT Sports


12:06
Match
GAME, SET AND MATCH! – PEGULA 3-6 6-7 RYBAKINA
Elena Rybakina has done it - finally!
The Kazakhstani reaches her third Grand Slam final and her second Down Under.
The former Wimbledon champion fluffed her lines trying to serve it out on two occasions, but finally came through in the tie-break as she saved two set point before triumphing by a 9-7 scoreline.
The fifth seed clinches victory over the American via a tidy backhand winner to prevail in one hour and 40 minutes on her fourth match point.
Rybakina will now face Aryna Sabalenka in a showdown for the trophy on Saturday in a repeat of the 2023 final that she lost 6-4 3-6 4-6 to the Belarusian.
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Image credit: Getty Images

12:03
Tie break
TIE-BREAK LATEST: PEGULA 6-6 RYBAKINA
What a rollercoaster.
Pegula immediately earns the mini break back with a drive volley to the body and reels off both points on serve to lead 5-4 from 4-2 down.
Elena steadies the ship at five apiece but Jess tees up set point with a forehand winner.
It’s on the American’s serve but this time Rybakina flashes away the big forehand and it’s level again with a second change of ends.
11:57
Tie break
TIE-BREAK LATEST: PEGULA 2-4 RYBAKINA
Pegula comes out on top in a pulsating rally to open.
The American then earns the first mini break as Rybakina slams a poor backhand long.
However, it may be catching as nerves kick in and Jpeg misfires off her forehand twice in quick succession.
Rybakina finally finds the island with an attempted forehand winner and leads at the change of ends.  
11:53
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 6-6 RYBAKINA
Well, you do start to wonder about Elena’s mindset now.
The Kazakhstani is going to need to somehow reset as she has now failed to serve it out on two occasions, blowing three match points along the way.
It’s on her racquet at 30-15 but she balloons a nervy forehand long once again.
Pegula blows a first break point but nails a forehand to earn a second and Elena almost inevitably wobbles on the forehand to let it slip away.
11:47
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 5-6 RYBAKINA
Pegula has to hustle again from 15-0 as a weak forehand into the net is followed by a tame drop shot that Elena just about punishes via a flick of the cord.
Rybakina earns two break points with a composed mid-court forehand winner and Pegula slaps her racquet on the floor when she’s forced to rush a forehand long from deep behind her baseline on the first of them.
Rybakina will now serve for the match for a second time…
11:43
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 5-5 RYBAKINA
Match … ON?
Pegula drills a stunning forehand winner down the line and then ups the ante further with a sizzling backhand return winner.
Rybakina makes Pulp with a big first serve and an ace, but the forehand fails again with two tight misses as a result of the stress of the situation and Jess breaks back!
11:39
PEGULA 3-6 4-5 RYBAKINA
It’s edgy stuff for Pegula as Elena moves within two points of glory at 30-30 when the American drills a forehand into the net.
Rybakina misses out on a match point with a misfire on a make-able forehand that has her chucking her racquet into the air in frustration.
A huge inside-out forehand return keeps her interested at deuce and a poor backhand back-in-behind flies into the alley from Jess to tee up the MP.
The sixth seed resists and does it again on a second when the Kazakhstani can’t land the forehand.
A third match point comes and goes for the 2023 finalist and Pegula somehow wriggles free with a timely service winner.
It's incredible hustle from the American and it may well make Elena a touch tight trying to get over the line...
11:32
PEGULA 3-6 3-5 RYBAKINA
Rybakina thuds away a forehand winner down the line from deep and gets some breathing space at 30-0 when Pegula drags a backhand return just long.
Elena follows suit with a make-able backhand return into the net but finds a massive first serve to earn two game points.
An ace seals the deal on the second and she is one game away from the 2026 AO final.
11:28
PEGULA 3-6 3-4 RYBAKINA
Rybakina’s easy power cuts through the Pegula serve again as a forehand winner cranks up the heat at 15-30.
The American responds and then takes charge with a deep volley.
Elena has her chance to prolong the game to deuce but can’t keep a forehand down from the mid-court and ends up looping it just long.  
11:23
PEGULA 3-6 2-4 RYBAKINA
Rybakina slightly overcooks a backhand up the line but slams down aces two and three of the day on her way to taking charge at 40-15.
Pegula gets a slither of hope when the fifth seed misfires off the forehand in a deja vu moment from the opening point, but another clutch serve does the damage and sees her back up the break.
11:20
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 2-3 RYBAKINA
Rybakina responds by unloading on the return and dictating with the powerhouse forehand.
A succession of deep strikes to Jpeg’s forehand eventually force an error on the stretch to tee up two more break points.
Pegula saves one with a plus one forehand at the net but nearly takes a ball kid out with a rushed and skewed backhand under pressure on the second as Elena regains the momentum.
11:16
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 2-2 RYBAKINA
Pegula was very gloomy as she took her seat at the change of ends following that break of serve.
The American will be feeling very different now as she hits straight back!
The sixth seed hammers a fine return to feet to lure an error at 30-15 down.
Rybakina wobbles with a backhand long and is then caught out in a superb baseline exchange as her sluggish movement sees her drag a wayward backhand off the island.
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Image credit: Getty Images

11:11
Break
BREAK! – PEGULA 3-6 1-2 RYBAKINA
Pegula doesn’t do enough with a volley at 30-30 and gives Elena the chance to dig out a backhand pass down the line that Jess can’t retrieve on the stretch.
It opens the door for the Kazakhstani and she zaps away a sizzling forehand return winner to secure the first break of the second set.
11:06
PEGULA 3-6 1-1 RYBAKINA
Rybakina gets reassurance from her coach when she balloons a hopeless backhand way long.
The fifth seed responds with a stonking crosscourt backhand and a lovely volley but makes another mess of a backhand strike to give Jess hope at 30-30.
A service winner and a thumping plus-one forehand quickly end that and the Kazakhstani moves onto the board.
11:03
PEGULA 3-6 1-0 RYBAKINA
New set, different story?
Pegula will hope so as she kicks off this second stanza with a hold to 15 that she concludes with her second ace of the semi-final.
11:00
VIDEO: ARYNA SABALENKA SEES OFF SVITOLINA TO REACH ANOTHER AO FINAL
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Highlights: Sabalenka powers past Svitolina to reach fourth-straight final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:58
Set
SET! – PEGULA 3-6 RYBAKINA
Too good.
Rybakina seizes upon a short ball and rockets away a crosscourt forehand winner to take the game to 30 and clinch a 42-minute opener on her second set point.
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Image credit: Getty Images