The women’s final at the Australian Open is finally here, and there’s a little bit of history riding on it. Elena Rybakina is doing everything she can to avoid a repeat of what happened three years ago, when she faced Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 final and watched the Belarusian storm back from a set down to grab her first Melbourne title.

Now they’re back on the same stage, both bringing that big power-hitting game, and the stakes feel even bigger. If Sabalenka takes down Rybakina again, she’ll walk away with her third Australian Open trophy in just four years. But if Elena Rybakina flips the script, she’ll finally claim her first title in Melbourne.

It’s a huge showdown unfolding inside Rod Laver Arena, with a massive $4,150,000 prize purse on the line, not to mention all those valuable ranking points. With that much at stake, you definitely want everything running smoothly, which means having the right person in the chair. So who’s the chair umpire of Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina finals? It’s none other than Tom Sweeney.

Who is Tom Sweeney and what is his background as a chair umpire?

Australian chair umpire Tom Sweeney’s journey into officiating actually started in a pretty simple, hometown way. Back in 2016, when an ITF event rolled into Benalla, Victoria, the tournament needed local line umpires. He stepped in to help out, and somewhere along the way, that one opportunity sparked a real passion for officiating. What began as lending a hand at a local event slowly turned into something much bigger for the now 41-year-old.

From there, Sweeney worked his way up and eventually found himself traveling the international tennis tour. And over time, officiating didn’t just become a side gig for him, it became a full-on career.

Why was Tom Sweeney chosen to officiate the Sabalenka vs Rybakina final?

Grand Slam tournaments like the Australian Open assign chair umpires officially through the tournament’s officiating leadership, including the Referee and Chief Umpire, who approve all chair umpire appointments for each match, including finals. These assignments are backed by the official ITF Grand Slam rules, which require that officials be thoroughly familiar with Grand Slam regulations, tournament code of conduct, and on-court procedures before they can be placed in charge of high-profile matches like finals.

For Grand Slam finals, experience and demonstrated professionalism are key. And Tom Sweeney has it all…

Top Stories

How Much Did Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open Jewelry Cost? Designer and Materials Explained

Is Elena Rybakina Dating? All You Need To Know About WTA Star’s Boyfriend

Who Are Elena Rybakina’s Parents & Siblings? Everything to Know About WTA Star’s Family

What Is Elena Rybakina’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality? Exploring Her Family Roots and Background

What Is Elena Rybakina’s Net Worth in 2026? Career Earnings, Endorsement Deals and More

By the Australian summer of 2025, Tom had already officiated at 55 Grand Slams, including 23 Australian Opens, 8 French Opens, 14 Wimbledons, and 10 US Opens, along with three Olympics in Rio, Tokyo, and Paris, the London Paralympics, the Delhi Commonwealth Games, and 28 Davis/BJCK Cup ties. That’s a résumé most officials can only dream about.

Melbourne, in particular, has become very familiar territory for him. At the Australian Open, he took the chair for the 2023 Women’s Singles Final and has also worked eight doubles finals. Since 2019, he’s been a Chair Umpire on the WTA Tour as well, making him a steady, trusted presence whenever the pressure is at its highest.

What controversy did Aryna Sabalenka have with the chair umpire at the Australian Open 2026?

Given what happened in Aryna Sabalenka’s semifinal, it’s easy to understand why having the right chair umpire in the final really matters. During her match against Elina Svitolina on Thursday, Sabalenka cruised to a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win, but it wasn’t completely drama-free. There was a tense moment with chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell that quickly became one of the talking points of the match.

Things got interesting early in the first set when Sabalenka was suddenly called for hindrance because of her double grunt. The call seemed to catch everyone off guard. Both Sabalenka and Svitolina looked around, confused about what had just happened, trying to figure out why the point had been stopped.

Sabalenka, especially, looked stunned. Even after the chair umpire reviewed it with instant replay and stood by the decision, the four-time Grand Slam champion still couldn’t quite believe it. You could see the frustration building as she tried to process the call in real time.

It’s still unclear whether the Australian Open uses some kind of audio version of Hawk-Eye, almost like a “Hawk-Ear”, but on the replay, you could clearly hear a second sound from Sabalenka. After the match, she admitted she didn’t agree with the decision at all, but instead of letting it throw her off, she turned that frustration into fuel.

“I think it was the wrong call, but whatever,” Sabalenka said. “She really… How do I say it in a nice way? She really pissed me off and it actually helped me and benefit my game. I was more aggressive.”

That said, it’ll be interesting to see how Aryna Sabalenka channels that same fire and focus when she steps out for her final match at the Australian Open.