Elena Rybakina has reached the pinnacle of tennis, securing her third career Grand Slam title and the world number one ranking after defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open women’s singles final on Saturday. The 27-year-old Kazakh overcame a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 scoreline at Arthur Ashe Stadium, effectively halting Sabalenka’s 20-match unbeaten run in New York and preventing the Belarusian from joining legends like Serena Williams and Chris Evert as a three-time consecutive champion.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Rybakina, who entered the tournament surrounded by uncertainty due to a persistent ankle injury. Despite these physical concerns, she successfully added the New York title to her previous triumphs at the 2022 Wimbledon and the 2026 Australian Open. Her performance in the final was highlighted by a level of composure that ultimately earned her the $5.5 million winner’s prize.
Early in the match, Rybakina displayed aggressive groundstrokes, though Sabalenka initially held her own with powerful serving. The momentum shifted in the first set when Sabalenka committed a costly double fault to trail 3-2. The Belarusian’s frustration boiled over shortly after when she received a code violation for launching a ball into the stands. While Rybakina remained focused to secure the opening set, her intensity dipped midway through the second, allowing the 28-year-old Sabalenka to force a decider with an impressive display of drop shots and crosscourt backhands.
As the match moved into the third set, Sabalenka attempted to reclaim control following a hard-fought opening game, but Rybakina’s consistency prevailed. She pulled away to a 5-2 advantage in the final set, closing out the match to seal a historic win. The result leaves Sabalenka without a major trophy for the 2026 season, while the composed Rybakina solidified her position at the top of the sport. The report also notes that denying the Belarusian the chance to emulate Serena Williams and Chris E, the Russian-born Kazakh’s icy composure on the grand stage helped her snap Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows on Saturday. The report also notes that but the 27-year-old shrugged off those concerns to add the US Open title to her Australian Open triumph this year and Wimbl, an ankle injury had threatened to derail Rybakina’s campaign even before the tournament started.
