NEW YORK, September 13: Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a thrilling women’s singles final to capture her first US Open title and third Grand Slam championship.
The victory will also lift the Kazakhstan star to World No. 1 when the new WTA rankings are officially released, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top.
Rybakina Takes Control of Deciding Set
Rybakina started strongly at Arthur Ashe Stadium and took the opening set 6-4 with her trademark powerful serve and aggressive baseline hitting.
Sabalenka responded in the second set, edging it 7-5 and forcing a decider. But Rybakina quickly regained control in the third, breaking Sabalenka and racing through the final set 6-2 to seal the biggest New York victory of her career.
First US Open Crown, Third Grand Slam Title
The championship completes another major milestone in Rybakina’s career.
She has now won three Grand Slam singles titles:
- Wimbledon 2022
- Australian Open 2026
- US Open 2026
Her New York triumph also means she has won both hard-court Grand Slams in the same season, placing her among a small group of women to achieve the feat this century.
Sabalenka’s Three-Peat Bid Ends
Sabalenka entered the final seeking a third consecutive US Open title after winning in 2024 and 2025.
The Belarusian had also carried a 20-match US Open winning streak into the championship match, but Rybakina’s powerful return game and composure in the deciding set ended her run.
The defeat also prevented Sabalenka from adding another major title to a season in which she had remained one of the dominant players on the women’s tour.
Rybakina Set to Become World No. 1
Rybakina had already secured enough ranking points during her US Open run to overtake Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings.
The change becomes official with the next rankings update, making Rybakina the first woman representing Kazakhstan to reach World No. 1.
Her rise ends Sabalenka’s run of nearly two years at the top of women’s tennis.
Triumph Comes After Ankle Injury Scare
Rybakina’s victory is even more significant because her participation in the US Open had been uncertain only weeks earlier.
An ankle injury forced her to withdraw from Cincinnati and raised doubts over whether she would be fully fit for New York. After intensive rehabilitation, she recovered in time and produced one of the strongest Grand Slam runs of her career.
During the tournament, she defeated opponents including Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen, Coco Gauff and finally Sabalenka, completing a difficult path to the trophy.
Rivalry With Sabalenka Grows
The final added another chapter to one of the leading rivalries in women’s tennis.
Rybakina had also beaten Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final, while Sabalenka recorded wins over her at Indian Wells and Miami earlier in the season.
With the US Open title and World No. 1 position now secured, Rybakina ends the Grand Slam season as one of the dominant figures in women’s tennis.
source – Reuters / US Open
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