Elena Rybakina's Australian Open triumph was a remarkable feat, showcasing her prowess and versatility on the tennis court. Here's a breakdown of 20 impressive achievements that contributed to her success:
Back-to-Back Grand Slam Titles: Rybakina secured her second Grand Slam title, following her Wimbledon victory in 2022. This achievement places her among the elite group of active women's players who have won multiple majors since 2022, alongside Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff.
Grass and Hard Court Dominance: She became one of the select few active women's players to win Grand Slam titles on both grass and hard courts. This exclusive club includes Venus Williams, with her Wimbledon and US Open triumphs, and Iga Swiatek, who won Wimbledon and the US Open.
Wimbledon and Australian Open Double: Rybakina is the only active women's player to have won both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Venus Williams is the only other player to have reached the final of both tournaments, albeit without claiming the title in Melbourne.
Back-to-Back WTA Finals and Australian Open: Rybakina achieved a rare feat by winning the WTA Finals and the Australian Open consecutively, a feat last accomplished by Caroline Wozniacki in 2017 and 2018.
Career Milestone: 12th Title: This victory marked Rybakina's 12th career title, adding to her impressive collection, which includes two Grand Slam titles and a WTA Finals title, as well as two WTA 1000, five WTA 500, and two WTA 250 titles.
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Head-to-Head Dominance: Rybakina improved her head-to-head records against Swiatek and Sabalenka, tying with Ostapenko for the most career wins over Swiatek. Her record against Sabalenka could have been 8-7, considering she had quadruple match point against her in Berlin last year.
Combined Record Against Top Ranked Players: Rybakina's combined record against Swiatek and Sabalenka while they were ranked No. 1 is an impressive 9-4. This includes 4-1 against Swiatek and 5-3 against Sabalenka while they held the top ranking.
Beating Top Ranked Players at Grand Slams: Rybakina is the only player to have beaten both Swiatek and Sabalenka at Grand Slams while they were ranked No. 1. She defeated Swiatek at the 2023 Australian Open and Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open.
Double Defeat of Sabalenka in Australia: Rybakina is the only player to have beaten Sabalenka twice in Australia since 2023. Sabalenka's only losses in the last four Australian swings were to Rybakina in the 2024 Brisbane final, Madison Keys in the 2025 Australian Open final, and Rybakina again in the 2026 Australian Open final.
Career Record Against No. 1 Ranked Players: Rybakina's career record against No. 1 ranked players is 9-6, including 0-2 against Ashleigh Barty. Her records against Swiatek and Sabalenka while they were ranked No. 1 are 4-1 and 5-3, respectively.
Best Winning Percentage Against No. 1 Ranked Players: Rybakina now holds the best career winning percentage against No. 1 ranked players in WTA rankings history (minimum 10 matches played), with a 60% success rate. Only Serena Williams (58.6%) and Steffi Graf (57.9%) have higher percentages.
10-Match Winning Streak Against Top 10 Players: Rybakina extended her winning streak against Top 10 players to 10 matches, going 7-0 in 2025 and 3-0 so far in 2026. She is the second woman this decade to achieve 10 or more consecutive wins against Top 10 players, following Swiatek.
20 of 21 Match Wins: Rybakina's winning streak extended to 20 of her last 21 matches, dating back to October. Her only loss during this period was a close match to Karolina Muchova in the Brisbane quarterfinals this year, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Most Wins Since Wimbledon: Rybakina's record of 38-7 since the end of Wimbledon last year is the most wins on the women's tour in that span.
ACE Leader in 2026: Rybakina led the WTA in aces for 2026, hitting 47 aces at the Australian Open, the most for any woman in the tournament. She now has 69 total aces for the year, with China's Wang Xinyu in second place with 60.
Ranking Boost: Rybakina's title run propelled her ranking from No. 5 back to her career-high of No. 3. She first reached No. 3 in 2023, but this is her first return to that spot in two years, since the 2024 Australian Open.
Closing In on No. 2: Rybakina is now just 368 points behind current No. 2 Swiatek, with 7,978 points to 7,610. The upcoming back-to-back-to-back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami could be crucial in her pursuit of the No. 2 ranking.
Versatility on Different Surfaces: Rybakina's success on grass and hard courts showcases her adaptability and versatility as a player, making her a formidable force on various surfaces.
