Elena Rybakina won the US Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 27-year-old Kazakh claimed her third Grand Slam title and will become the new world No. 1 on Monday, ending Sabalenka's reign of 99 consecutive weeks atop the WTA rankings.
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A dominant first set, a fightback in the second
Rybakina seized control from the opening exchanges. Through the first six games, she produced six winners without committing a single unforced error, holding serve to love twice. The decisive break in the seventh game allowed her to close out the first set 6-4. Sabalenka responded in the second set by rediscovering her power, breaking back at 5-5 before snatching the set 7-5 in a defiant surge that reignited the crowd backing the two-time defending champion.
A decisive third set leaves no doubt
The final set left no room for ambiguity. Rybakina elevated her serving to another level, sealing the match on her 12th ace of the evening after two hours and 21 minutes of play. Sabalenka, visibly drained by the intensity of the contest, could not find answers to contain her rival's striking power. The 6-2 scoreline reflected Rybakina's total control through the deciding set.
Why this title changes everything for Rybakina
With this victory, Rybakina joins the exclusive club of women who have won both hard-court Grand Slams in the same season, following her Australian Open title in January. She is only the sixth woman to achieve this feat in the Open Era. Her record in finals against Sabalenka now stands at 5-2, a ratio that confirms her ability to raise her game at the biggest moments. Rybakina's career major haul now reads three titles: Wimbledon 2022, the Australian Open 2026, and now the US Open 2026.
Key numbers from the final
Rybakina finished with 12 aces and surgical ball-striking throughout the match. Sabalenka, who was chasing a third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows, sees her historic bid fall short. Only Chris Evert and Serena Williams had managed that streak in the Open Era. The new WTA rankings published on Monday will officially install Rybakina at the top of the world standings.
