Fresh off one of the most resilient championship runs of her career, Elena Rybakina marked her 2026 Australian Open triumph with a striking champion’s photoshoot along the Yarra River. Less than 24 hours after lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, Rybakina posed with the trophy against a backdrop of Melbourne’s calm waterfront and glassy skyscrapers.
Inside Elena Rybakina’s Post-Australian Open Trophy Photoshoot Along the Yarra River
The following morning, dressed in a one-shoulder, floor-length red maxi dress, Rybakina cut a striking figure as the silver trophy caught the light of the Melbourne skyline. The celebratory images from the Yarra River were later shared on social media channels later that morning in Melbourne, offering fans a final glimpse of her Australian Open triumph.
One fine morning in Melbourne.
The AO 2026 Women’s Singles Champion Elena Rybakina takes a stroll along the Yarra with Daphne. pic.twitter.com/fVI3leFXAG
— Craig Tiley (@CraigTiley) February 1, 2026
Elena Rybakina all glammed up for her Australian Open Champion’s photoshoot.
Wow. 💃🏻❤️
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 1, 2026
Rybakina’s Melbourne campaign culminated in her second career Grand Slam title on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. Entering the tournament as the World No. 5, her journey began with a series of commanding straight-set victories. In the opening rounds, she moved past Kaja Juvan (6-4, 6-3), Varvara Gracheva (7-5, 6-2), Tereza Valentova (6-2, 6-3), and the 21st seed Elise Mertens (6-1, 6-3).
Her momentum reached a fever pitch in the quarterfinals, where she dismantled World No. 2 Iga Świątek with a 7-5, 6-1 win. She followed this by outlasting World No. 6 Jessica Pegula in a tense semifinal battle, winning 6-3, 7-6(7) to set up a high-stakes championship rematch against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
How Did Rybakina Turn the Tide Against Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open Final?
The final was a 2-hour and 18-minute odyssey that saw Rybakina avenge her 2023 Melbourne heartbreak. After claiming the first set 6-4, she faced a fierce resurgence from Sabalenka, who took the second set 6-4 and surged to a 3-0 lead in the decider.
Rybakina recalibrated her game, winning five consecutive games to regain control and eventually clinching the title 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. She was presented with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup by tennis legend Jennifer Capriati, marking her as the first Kazakh player to win the event. Beyond the trophy, Rybakina’s win propelled her back to a career-high ranking of World No. 3.
Following this event, Rybakina is set to take a short one-week break before returning to action at the 2026 Qatar Open in Doha. The Kazakh has been included in the entry list for the WTA 1000 event, which will mark her sixth appearance at the tournament. Her best result there came in 2024, when she reached the final.
