Elena Rybakina solidified her place at the top of the tennis world on Saturday, capturing the US Open women’s singles title with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The win marks Rybakina’s third Grand Slam trophy, following her 2022 Wimbledon success and her triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year. With this performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 27-year-old officially secures the world number one ranking.
The match saw Rybakina overcome a pre-tournament ankle injury to halt Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. By preventing the 28-year-old Belarusian from securing a third consecutive New York title, Rybakina denied her a place in history alongside icons like Serena Williams and Chris Evert. While Sabalenka showed flashes of aggression throughout the final, Rybakina maintained her composure to claim the $5.5m championship prize.
Tensions surfaced early in the contest when the second-seeded Rybakina moved ahead 3-2 following a double fault by Sabalenka. The Belarusian’s frustration was palpable, resulting in a code violation after she launched a ball into the stands. Although Sabalenka struggled to find her rhythm against Rybakina’s stinging groundstrokes, she capitalized on a temporary dip in the Kazakh’s intensity during the second set. Utilizing a precise drop shot and a powerful crosscourt backhand, Sabalenka fought back to force a deciding set.
The final set opened with a fierce exchange, highlighted by a roaring Sabalenka hold, but the momentum ultimately shifted back to Rybakina. Displaying consistent quality with her red-and-blue-framed racket, she built a decisive 5-2 lead before sealing the match. This victory leaves Sabalenka without a major title in 2026, while cementing a career-defining season for the Russian-born Kazakh, who remained unruffled under pressure to close out the tournament. 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. The report also notes that and though Sabalenka brought late aggression, Rybakina was typically unruffled and prevailed to pocket, the title showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium had all the ingredients of a classic between the top two in the rankings.
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