Elena Rybakina has claimed her second Grand Slam title, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.
Rybakina was dominant throughout the tournament, losing just one set and serving consistently well in Melbourne.
This win adds to her growing list of achievements, following her first major title at Wimbledon in 2022.
The victory also saw Rybakina surpass Serena Williams for a WTA record, marking another milestone in her career.
Rybakina’s strong history against world number ones after Australian Open win
With her win over Sabalenka in the final, Rybakina now has a 7-3 record in their head-to-head meetings.
The Kazakhstani’s success adds to an already impressive record against players holding the top spot in the WTA rankings.
OptaAce data shows Rybakina now has a 60% winning percentage against world number ones, a remarkable figure given the level of competition.
She sits above names like Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin in terms of win rate versus top-ranked players. Serena Williams, second on the list, finished her career with a 58.6% mark.
Overall, Rybakina now has nine victories and six losses against world number ones following her latest success.
Rybakina builds strong case for World No.1 after Australian Open triumph
Following her Australian Open win, Rybakina has added 1,760 points to her ranking, placing her firmly in third on the WTA Tour.
She now sits 930 points clear of Amanda Anisimova in fourth, with Iga Swiatek in second place now within closer reach.
Rybakina trails Swiatek by just 368 points and is not defending many points this season, which could work in her favour.
She didn’t claim a Masters title or make it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam last year, so there’s plenty of room for her to gain ground as the year goes on.
If she maintains this level over the next few months, reaching world number one by year’s end is well within reach.
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