DUBAI: Fresh off the heat and glare of Melbourne, the story of this year’s Australian Open will roll straight from the Rod Laver Arena into Dubai. Elena Rybakina, 26, having dethroned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, returns on Feb. 15 to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that is increasingly special to the Russian. After adding a second Grand Slam win to her 2022 Wimbledon title, Rybakina, the new world No. 3, returns to Dubai not only as a former finalist but as a resident of the city since 2024.

Elena Rybakina avenged her 2023 Australian Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka with a three-set triumph Saturday to claim her first crown in Melbourne.

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis final, beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.