Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 29/01/2026, 08:26  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 31/01/2026 at 06:05 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and fifth seed Elena Rybakina are set to meet yet again in the final of the Australian Open. They contested the 2023 final, which Sabalenka won. Below is our prediction for this match.

Sabalenka has reached a fourth successive final in Melbourne. The world number one won the first two, beating Rybakina in 2024 for her maiden Slam title.

Last year, however, she missed the chance of a three-peat and will be out to reclaim the title. The Belarusian, who has won eight times previously against Rybakina, overpowered the in-form 12th seed Elina Svitolina in the semis.

With 11 wins, Sabalenka is undefeated in 2026 and hasn't even dropped a set.

Rybakina has also had a strong start to the season. Through nine matches, she has lost just once, a 2-1 setback in Brisbane against Karolina Muchova.

Those sets lost in the quarter-final tie are the only ones she has dropped in 2026. The former Wimbledon champion defeated sixth seed Jessica Pegula to book her third career Slam final, and in so doing has shot up two places to third in the live ranking.

Rybakina has won six times against Sabalenka, with three of her wins coming in tournament-deciding matches.

After losing the AO final in 2023, Rybakina went on to win finals against Sabalenka at Indian Wells, Brisbane, and more recently at last year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh.