AO 2026 Final Sabalenka v Rybakina

[PhiEaglesfan712]

It would be a scheduling nightmare.

The only way it could work is if the women play Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, and the men play Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Sunday. That's the only way you're going to avoid the women from potentially playing more than 6 sets in 2 days. Having a women's Monday R16 would potentially mean 3 sets on Monday and 5 sets on Tuesday. A women's QF on Wednesday could potentially mean 5 sets on Wednesday and 5 sets on Thursday, which is not feasible.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Regardless of the scheduling If the women play the best of 5 from the QFs at the AO? I have to agree with Keli how are they supposed to get conditioning of playing the best of 5? I am not saying the women in the WTA arent fit, still I think it is totally unfair to expect them to play the best of 5 especially in a GS when there are no previous tournaments to get match fit, anyway at present Craig Tiley will talk to the players and get their opinions, Jess Pegula for one is against it.

 

[Kieran]

Bst of five for the women would be the death knell at the slams. 3 is enough.

By the way, there's something very satisfying about Sabalenko losing yet another final. I dunno if it's only me but I find her unlikeable. There's something about her. it has nothing to do with her physical power - she's got great physical attributes for the sport - but I think she exudes a touch of what the yanks call "entitlement." it's a good word. She's a bad loser - again, an attribute I admire - but gives off a petulant, sulky vibe, as if she's so much better than everyone and that they only won cos she lost.

No shit, Sherlock. Sometimes you even lose cos you're not good enough to win..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bst of five for the women would be the death knell at the slams. 3 is enough.

By the way, there's something very satisfying about Sabalenko losing yet another final. I dunno if it's only me but I find her unlikeable. There's something about her. it has nothing to do with her physical power - she's got great physical attributes for the sport - but I think she exudes a touch of what the yanks call "entitlement." it's a good word. She's a bad loser - again, an attribute I admire - but gives off a petulant, sulky vibe, as if she's so much better than everyone and that they only won cos she lost.

No shit, Sherlock. Sometimes you even lose cos you're not good enough to win..

Kieran Hi!
I was at the ladies final " quite frankly Sabalenka puts too much pressure on herself to win' again she came unstuck, emotionally, she was playing against a very 'chilled' opponent in Rybakina who kept her composure throughout the match and she took her chances when Saba and her serve went off and won A well deserved win, I hope Rybakina this year can go on with it as she dosent have many points to defend and coud give Saba a run for her money as No 1 ranking, with all the drama with her coach Vukov who was banned for 1 year, Rybakina put that all aside and showed how good of a player she really is.

 

[Kieran]

Kieran Hi!
I was at the ladies final " quite frankly Sabalenka puts too much pressure on herself to win' again she came unstuck, emotionally, she was playing against a very 'chilled' opponent in Rybakina who kept her composure throughout the match and she took her chances when Saba and her serve went off and won A well deserved win, I hope Rybakina this year can go on with it as she dosent have many points to defend and coud give Saba a run for her money as No 1 ranking, with all the drama with her coach Vukov who was banned for 1 year, Rybakina put that all aside and showed how good of a player she really is.

Oh well done you! I haven't read back through the posts, just popped in, but that must have been a great experience! Where were you seated, in relation to the court?

Totally agree about Sabalenko! That pressure she puts on herself is unrealistic: she'd be better off if she was more humble and hunted as an underdog rather than putting herself on a pedestal before others do. I really like Rybakina, her demeanour is great, she's humble and she has a face like a Raphael masterpiece...

 

[Vince Evert]

interestingly, the women's final is not yet available on the official AO channel. Only the men's is (which i just added). I'm sure it will be but i would have thought the final would have been posted one day before.

 

[Vince Evert]

Regardless of the scheduling If the women play the best of 5 from the QFs at the AO? I have to agree with Keli how are they supposed to get conditioning of playing the best of 5? I am not saying the women in the WTA arent fit, still I think it is totally unfair to expect them to play the best of 5 especially in a GS when there are no previous tournaments to get match fit, anyway at present Craig Tiley will talk to the players and get their opinions, Jess Pegula for one is against it.

Make them go B05 but with the semis and finals only.

If the players of yesteryear at the Virginia Slims could play BO5 finals between the years 1984 - 1996 , i don't see it being a problem with these modern female competitors.

 

[Vince Evert]

Another way to look at it, this years mens' semis were EPiC.

Then you compare that to, both the quality and duration, of the two straight sets Womens' semis. Not a good look.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another way to look at it, this years mens' semis were EPiC.

Then you compare that to, both the quality and duration, of the two straight sets Womens' semis. Not a good look.

To be fair Vince you cant compare Mens tennis to womens

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh well done you! I haven't read back through the posts, just popped in, but that must have been a great experience! Where were you seated, in relation to the court?

Totally agree about Sabalenko! That pressure she puts on herself is unrealistic: she'd be better off if she was more humble and hunted as an underdog rather than putting herself on a pedestal before others do. I really like Rybakina, her demeanour is great, she's humble and she has a face like a Raphael masterpiece...

I was also at the womens SFs ( mens SFs and mens finals ) had great seats in the front section about 7 rows from the front a little elevated opposite the umpire

 

[Kieran]

I was also at the womens SFs ( mens SFs and mens finals ) had great seats in the front section about 7 rows from the front a little elevated opposite the umpire

I’m very happy for you, is a great experience and it’s good for us to have a firsthand witness to that events...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I’m very happy for you, is a great experience and it’s good for us to have a firsthand witness to that events...

Thanks, I really enjoyed it this year and I am making plans to go back in 2027

 

[Kieran]

Thanks, I really enjoyed it this year and I am making plans to go back in 2027

You’re representing us all very well!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You’re representing us all very well!

Your too kind

 

[Kieran]

Your too kind

I’ll take it. I don’t get told that too often!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Danielle Collins who had to withdraw at this years AO due to back injury, is another player not warmed to the idea of playing 3 out of 5 sets,at the AO,

" I feel like I'm about to go into cardiac arrest just thinking about playing 3 out of 5"

 

[Vince Evert]

The 2026 Women's final now available on the AO official channel.

Enjoy !!!

 

[britbox]

Danielle Collins who had to withdraw at this years AO due to back injury, is another player not warmed to the idea of playing 3 out of 5 sets,at the AO,

" I feel like I'm about to go into cardiac arrest just thinking about playing 3 out of 5"

Some may see that as an incentive.

 

[Vince Evert]

It's simple ! Strictly looking at it from equal prizemoney perspective, either the ladies go B05 or the Men go BO3 !!!

When you also factor in how slow the modern game is played these days as opposed to the 1990's and 2000's , what with slow tennis courts, MTO's becoming frequent (some questionable one's) , Ninety percent play from the baseline, and that there's no more tournaments has BO5 outside of the GS, (Davis Cup was the last one to be phased out),
you could argue B03 for mens and womens in early rounds, up until the semifinals and finals, then it's BO5.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Margaret's Photos from the AO