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<\/p>\nElena Rybakina yearns for more after finally shedding her tag as a one-slam wonder with a thunderous charge to Australian Open glory.<\/p>\n
The hottest player in women’s tennis parlayed her rich vein of form into a second major triumph with a gutsy three-set comeback victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Russian-born 26-year-old roared back from a mid-match lull in which she lost five consecutive games to conquer Sabalenka, once again, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a high-octane title decider on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\n
More from the Australian Open<\/p>\n
“I’m a little lost for words,” Rybakina said after overturning a 3-0 third-set deficit with some ferocious and fearless hitting from the back.<\/p>\n
After taking out world number two Iga \u015awi\u0105tek and the sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula on her charge to the final, Rybakina is the first woman since Naomi Osaka in 2019 to claim the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup with three consecutive wins over top-10 rivals.<\/p>\n
Set to rise to number three in the world tomorrow, Rybakina has won more matches than any other player on tour since last July, including 20 of her past 21, to serve notice to her rivals that her best years are still to come.<\/p>\n
Tellingly, the Kazakh also downed four-time major winner Sabalenka and \u015awi\u0105tek en route to the season-ending championship in Saudi Arabia in November and is unbeaten in her past 10 matches against top-10 opponents.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t even know these statistics, to be honest,” Rybakina said.<\/p>\n
“I always believed that I can come back to the level I was. Of course, we all have ups and downs.<\/p>\n
“I’m happy that now I’m getting back to this level and hopefully I can be stable again throughout the whole season and keep on showing great tennis, good results.”<\/p>\n
\u015awi\u0105tek had arrived in Melbourne hoping to complete a career grand slam, but now Rybakina is halfway there herself after adding the Open title to her 2022 Wimbledon crown.<\/p>\n
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Elena Rybakina is eyeing a return to Roland Garros and a chance to add a third grand slam title to her collection. (Getty Images: Tim Clayton)<\/p>\n
The big-hitting baseliner and power server will try to nab the third leg at Roland Garros in June and also needs a US Open trophy for a full set.<\/p>\n
“Well, of course, yes,” Rybakina said when asked if the French and US Open titles were her next priorities in 2026.<\/p>\n