Elena Rybakina won the US Open women’s singles final, beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. This victory marks Rybakina's third Grand Slam title and makes her the new world number one.
The Kazakh player, who is 27, showed great composure. She ended Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka, 28, was trying to win her third straight New York title, a feat only achieved by Serena Williams and Chris Evert.
Rybakina's Path to Victory
Rybakina had an ankle injury before the tournament, but she overcame it. This US Open title joins her Australian Open win from this year and her Wimbledon success in 2022. The final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium was a showdown between the top two ranked players. Rybakina remained calm even when Sabalenka played aggressively late in the match. She won the $5.5 million prize.
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Start Your News DetoxRybakina, wearing a yellow-and-black outfit, hit powerful groundstrokes. However, she couldn't convert early pressure into points. Sabalenka served strongly, holding her ground in their third Grand Slam final meeting.
Rybakina, the second seed, took a 3-2 lead after Sabalenka double-faulted. Sabalenka then received a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands, showing her frustration. Her irritation grew with each missed shot, while Rybakina stayed calm. Rybakina then secured the first set.
Sabalenka's Fight and Rybakina's Finish
Rybakina's performance dipped in the middle of the second set, giving Sabalenka hope. Sabalenka hit a delicate drop shot and a stunning backhand winner to force a deciding set. She let out a loud roar after another backhand winner to hold serve in the first game of the third set.
However, Rybakina's skill shone through. She took a strong 5-2 lead and then closed out the match. This left Sabalenka without any major titles in 2026.
