Melbourne, Australia
News Desk | Sports
MELBOURNE, Australia — World No. 6 Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan, progressed to the third round of the 2026 Australian Open on Friday, overcoming early difficulties to secure her place in the tournament’s second week at Melbourne Park, according to official results from the Grand Slam event. The third-round victory sets up a Saturday match against Czech player Tereza Valentova in the women’s singles draw.
Elena Rybakina, known for her powerful serve and baseline game, had earlier battled through a challenging second-round match against France’s Varvara Gracheva, ultimately prevailing in straight sets to reach the third round. Her upcoming third-round contest is part of the Australian Open’s third day of action, with play continuing across the hard courts at Melbourne Park.
The 26-year-old Kazakh’s performance in Melbourne follows a strong 2025 season in which she captured the WTA Finals title in Riyadh, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final and going undefeated throughout the event. That victory also brought Rybakina a record prize payout for women’s sports, a milestone confirmed by official Women’s Tennis Association sources.
Tennis legend John McEnroe recently highlighted Rybakina as one of the leading contenders for Grand Slam success this year, emphasizing her dangerous form on hard courts despite strong competition from players such as Coco Gauff.
As the Australian Open unfolds, Rybakina’s advancement adds a compelling narrative to the women’s draw, where top seeds, rising talents and established stars vie for quarterfinal berths. Play continues through the weekend with significant matches scheduled across the grounds at Melbourne Park.
ALSO READ: Oliver Glasner Continues Early Rebuild As Crystal Palace Manager
