Elena Rybakina secured her place in tennis history on Saturday by defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her maiden US Open title. The victory marks Rybakina’s third Grand Slam trophy, following her 2022 Wimbledon success and her triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year. With this win, the 27-year-old also solidifies her position at world number one, becoming the third woman this century to win both hardcourt majors in a single calendar year, joining the ranks of Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber.
The match saw Rybakina maintain an icy composure, successfully snapping Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. By doing so, she prevented the Belarusian from joining legends like Serena Williams and Chris Evert as a three-time consecutive winner in New York. The achievement is particularly notable given that Rybakina entered the tournament hampered by an ankle injury, which she managed to overcome through consistent, aggressive play.
Reflecting on her unexpected success, Rybakina expressed her disbelief and gratitude. She admitted that she did not anticipate such a result upon arriving in New York. In her post-match comments, she thanked the crowd for the vibrant atmosphere, noting that her affection for the city continues to grow. Despite the pressure, she remained focused on her serve and took calculated risks during pivotal moments in the final set.
For Sabalenka, the loss was a significant setback. The 28-year-old, who will finish the season without a major title for the first time since 2022, struggled to counter Rybakina’s potent serve. Despite a courageous second-set comeback where she broke Rybakina’s serve to force a decider, Sabalenka was unable to maintain that momentum. She later acknowledged that Rybakina was the superior player on the day, noting that her opponent’s serving and aggressive court coverage proved decisive.
The match was characterized by high-intensity rallies from two of the sport’s most powerful hitters. Rybakina dictated play early, applying relentless pressure on Sabalenka’s serve and forcing a total of twelve break opportunities. A key moment occurred in the first set when an unsettled Sabalenka received a code violation for ball abuse following a double fault on break point. Although Sabalenka showcased flashes of resilience, she ultimately faltered during critical exchanges.
The final set saw Rybakina pull away quickly after an early break. Despite a slight lapse serving for the match—marked by two double faults—she closed out the victory with an emphatic ace. Sabalenka, visibly frustrated, was seen smashing her racquet in her courtside seat following the final point, though the two athletes shared a brief, sportsmanlike embrace at the net moments later.
Sabalenka spoke candidly to the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd after the defeat, expressing disappointment in her own performance while praising her opponent’s high level of tennis. Looking ahead, she voiced a hopeful desire to perform better in next year’s iteration of the tournament. Rybakina, meanwhile, remains focused on savoring her latest achievement, admitting that the magnitude of her success is still difficult to fully process after a whirlwind few weeks on the circuit. 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 Wimbledon success in 2022, an ankle injury had threatened to derail Rybakina’s campaign even before the tournament started. The report also notes that somehow, everything aligned together on my side. The report also notes that you push me to the limit. “I want to say thank you to the beautiful spectators for such a beautiful atmosphere. The report also notes that i’m falling in love with New York more and more. The report also notes that too much achievements these few weeks. The report also notes that very proud of all the work, i’m super happy. The report also notes that where the 2024 and 2025 champion hadn’t lost since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final, she ended Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak in Flushing Meadows.
