Elena Rybakina solidified her status as the world’s top-ranked player by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a hard-fought US Open final on Saturday. With a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory, the 25-year-old secured her third career Grand Slam title, further cementing her dominance after previous wins at Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this January.
The match was a significant blow to Sabalenka, who had been aiming to become only the third woman in history, joining Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to secure three consecutive US Open championships. Rybakina’s victory halted the 28-year-old Belarusian’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka had not experienced a defeat at the tournament since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final.
Reflecting on her breakthrough performance, Rybakina admitted the reality of the achievement was still settling in. “It feels amazing,” she said. “It’s still so difficult to process what happened. Too much achievements these few weeks. I’m super happy, very proud of all the work. It’s just amazing.”
The match was a clash between the tour’s most powerful hitters. Rybakina exerted pressure throughout, creating 12 break point opportunities and converting three. She seized control in the fifth game of the opening set, forcing Sabalenka into uncharacteristic errors, including a double fault that drew a code violation for ball abuse. Despite a brief surge where Sabalenka saved two break points early in the second set and eventually broke Rybakina to force a decider, she could not maintain the momentum.
“I wish I could have performed a little better,” a visibly emotional Sabalenka told the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “She was simply a better player today than me.” The loss marks the first time since 2022 that Sabalenka will finish a season without claiming a major title.
The final set saw Rybakina regain her composure after a slight wobble. Although she double-faulted twice while serving for the match, she recovered to clinch the championship with a decisive ace. Rybakina later noted that the intensity of the match required constant mental adjustments. “In the third set, I told myself that I can still do it. I need to focus on my serve and just risk a little bit more when I have the chance,” she explained.
The aftermath of the match saw a brief, respectful embrace at the net between the two players. However, the frustration was evident as Sabalenka, back in her courtside seat, struck her racquet in disappointment. Sabalenka later credited her opponent’s tactical aggression, noting that while she was unhappy with her own level of play, Rybakina’s serve and consistency were the deciding factors in the match.
By reaching the semi-finals earlier in the tournament, Rybakina had already ensured she would supplant Sabalenka as the world number one. Her victory in the final provided a emphatic exclamation point on her climb to the summit of professional tennis. 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. The report also notes that but with her trademark aplomb, Rybakina roared back to finish off a frustrated Sabalenka. The report also notes that to be aggressive, then it was kind of a little bit easier to step in. The report also notes that the two biggest hitters in the women’s game came out swinging.
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