Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina Win Australian Open Titles

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Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina Win Australian Open Titles
By Burton Vanderfliet, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Thursday, February 5, 2026 12:58pm PST USA

Melbourne-- Last week in Melbourne, Australia, the world number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and the world number three Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan powered past the competition to take the men's and women's singles titles at the Australian Open.

Seeded fifth, the 26 year old Rybakina used a powerful serve and groundstrokes to turn the tables on the big hitting 27 year old world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Down 4-6, 4-4, Sabalenka won five games in a row to take set two as well as a 3-0 set three lead.

Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina

Alcaraz and Rybakina powered past the competition to take the singles titles at the Australian Open.

However the 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina answered with powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes herself to win five games in a row to take a 5-3 set three lead.

Serving to stay in the match, Sabalenka struck two crosscourt forehand winners to lead 30-0 before holding serve to reach 5-4.

Serving for the match, Rybakina struck two 86 miles per hour down the line forehand winners before hitting an ace out wide to end the match after two hours and 18 minutes of play.

One day later the 22 year old Alcaraz took on the 38 year old Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's championship final.

Djokovic had staged a surprise victory versus the world number two Jannik Sinner of Italy in the men's semifinals 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Tied with the Austalian Margaret Court at a record 24 singles grand slam titles, Djokovic was seeking an additional singles grand slam title and started the final round match hitting aggressively from the baseline to take set one before falling 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.

Djokovic was unable to maintain his high level of play during the course of four sets as Alcaraz mixed a powerful offense with consistent defense for the win.

And after winning singles titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, Alcaraz at age 22 becomes the youngest male winner of all four of the grand slam singles titles.