Aryna Sabalenka lost her second consecutive Australian Open final on Sunday, this time at the hands of Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina, the new world number three, fought from 0-3 down in the final set to defeat Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka has now been defeated in three of her last four major finals and her ‘killer instinct’ has been questioned as a result.
Who wins more Grand Slams in their career – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
After the heartbreaking loss in Melbourne, Sabalenka had been expected to travel to Doha for the Qatar Open: a WTA 1000 event starting on Sunday.
However, the Belarusian has since made a wise decision.
Aryna Sabalenka has made a smart move by withdrawing from the Qatar Open
On Wednesday, the WTA Tour made the following announcement: “World number one Aryna Sabalenka has pulled out of next week’s Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha, citing a change in schedule.”
Sabalenka’s decision is not only a smart move, but a necessary one.
There are only eight days between the end of the Australian Open Women’s Single event and the start of the Qatar Open, giving both Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina a short window to rest and recuperate.
After such a brutal loss, Sabalenka has not only chosen to protect her physical health, but also her state of mind.
By taking an extended break after the Australian Open, Sabalenka can fully come to terms with the Australian Open final loss, and allow herself to mentally rest ahead of an extremely busy period in the calendar [the Spring].
Amid an ever-expanding WTA season, taking time to rest and recover properly is not only a wise decision, but also a brave one on the part of Sabalenka.
- Aryna Sabalenka began the 2026 season by winning the Brisbane International, defeating Marta Kostyuk in the final
- The Belarusian then reached the Australian Open final, before losing to Elena Rybakina
- Sabalenka’s next tournament is set to be the Dubai Tennis Championships, starting on February 15
Aryna Sabalenka’s free hit
Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the Qatar Open will have little effect on her ranking.
After receiving a bye through to the second round at the 2025 event, Sabalenka was stunned by Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets.
As a result, Sabalenka will only lose 10 ranking points following the Qatar Open’s conclusion.
Sabalenka, who is currently on 10,990 WTA points, sits over 3,000 points ahead of Iga Swiatek in second place.
What would happen if Serena Williams played Aryna Sabalenka in 2025?
Sabalenka’s lead could extend further after the Qatar Open, should Swiatek suffer an early exit. Swiatek has 390 points to defend after her run to the semi-finals in 2025.
