Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will face off in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday, January 31.
Sabalenka is seeking her third title in Melbourne in the last four years, while Rybakina is going for her first crown Down Under and her third major overall. This match will tentatively start at 3:30 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Find my Australian Open final preview and an Sabalenka vs Rybakina prediction for Saturday below.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Player Prediction
- Sabalenka vs Rybakina Pick: Aryna Sabalenka -165
My Sabalenka vs Rybakina best bet is on Sabalenka to win outright. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live Australian Open odds page.
Sabalenka vs Rybakina Odds
| Aryna Sabalenka Odds | -165 |
| Elena Rybakina Odds | +135 |
| Spread | Sabalenka -2.5 |
| Over/Under | 22.5 (-125o / -115u) |
| Sabalenka-Rybakina H2H | 8-6 |
| Time | How to Watch | Saturday, 3:30 a.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings | |
Sabalenka vs Rybakina Preview, Prediction
by Tudor Cosma
Aryna Sabalenka Betting Preview
Sabalenka, the 27-year-old Belarusian and current world No. 1, continues to impress in every match, solidifying her status as the undisputed best player in the world.
Her dominance is so absolute that most of her matches feel predictable from the moment she leaves the locker room — an aura of invincibility in the WTA not seen since Serena Williams.
Sabalenka is a complete player with no discernible weaknesses. She possesses one of the world's premier serves — aggressive on the first delivery and rock-solid on the second — making her incredibly difficult to break.
From the baseline, she dictates play with overwhelming power while maintaining a consistent margin of error.
Mentally, she's perhaps the strongest on tour; even when incensed by calls, as seen in her semifinal against Elina Svitolina, she channels that energy to elevate her game even further.
While she has "only" four Grand Slam titles, this figure is deceptive. Last year, she was just four matches away from a Calendar Grand Slam, winning the US Open but suffering agonizing late-stage losses at the other three majors — including a dramatic final here against Madison Keys.
Her primary objective for 2026 is undoubtedly to sweep all four majors, a feat made possible by her incredible versatility across all surfaces.
She enters this final on an 11-match winning streak, all in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina Betting Preview
Rybakina, the 26-year-old Kazakh ranked world No. 5, is currently playing the best tennis of her career. Her victory at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh was a statement of intent, and she's carried that momentum into Melbourne.
Analysts who labeled her the pre-tournament favorite have been vindicated by her path to the final.
Rybakina’s weapons are legendary. As one of the tallest players on tour, her serve is statistically the best in the WTA, having led the circuit in aces last year.
Her baseline game is equally dangerous; she strikes the ball with such velocity that opponents often struggle to even reach it. Her calm, stoic demeanor helps her conserve energy and focus entirely on the task at hand.
While she currently has one Grand Slam title (Wimbledon 2022), her current form suggests that tally will soon grow.
After a brief dip in 2025 following the suspension of her coach, Stefano Vukov, his return to the team has seen Rybakina return to her most clinical self.
In this tournament, she's won six consecutive matches without dropping a set, including dominant performances against Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.
Although she showed slight nerves when serving for the match against Pegula, her ability to regroup and win the tiebreak displayed her improved mental fortitude.
Sabalenka vs Rybakina Predictions, Betting Analysis
Sabalenka has been breathtaking this season, reaching her fourth consecutive Australian Open final without dropping a set.
Her serving has been nearly untouchable, and her thirst for revenge following her loss to Rybakina in Riyadh will be a significant motivator.
While Rybakina is in peak form and won their last meeting, she showed slight vulnerability when closing out her semifinal against Pegula.
In a high-pressure Grand Slam final, Sabalenka’s current level of dominance is hard to bet against.
My prediction is a victory for Sabalenka.
Pick: Aryna Sabalenka -165
