Tarquin Campbell

Elena Rybakina won the 2026 Australian Open women’s title on Saturday with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. The win was big for her. It was her second Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022 and gave her a major boost in rankings and confidence. She played well under pressure, keeping her cool even when Sabalenka seemed in control. The backstory to Rybakina’s win is worth a bit of closer examination: The tennis world has always been replete with ambitious and pushy...