Aryna Sabalenka, who is defending her US Open crown for the second consecutive year, is on the brink of making history. If she lifts the trophy on Saturday, she will become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to achieve a three-peat at Flushing Meadows. Her opponent in the final is the newly crowned world number one, Elena Rybakina, who has been on a meteoric rise throughout the season. Rybakina entered the tournament having already beaten Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year.
That victory, combined with a string of strong performances, will see her ascend to the top of the WTA rankings on Monday, ending Sabalenka's 99‑week reign at the summit. Despite the impending loss of the No.1 ranking, Sabalenka remains focused on defending her title and exacting a measure of revenge for the Australian Open defeat. The stakes are enormous for both competitors.
Sabalenka is chasing a rare "three‑peat" – a feat achieved by only a handful of women in the Open Era. Since 1988, she joins the elite company of Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis as a world‑number‑one who has contested five or more Grand Slam finals. This will be her ninth major final overall and she arrives in New York on a 19‑match winning streak. Her record at the US Open over the past five years stands at 36‑3, and she has reached the final of every hard‑court major this season, notching seven victories over top‑10 opponents.
"I really understand how tough it is to reach world No.1," Sabalenka said in a pre‑match interview. "It takes a lot of work, and that was one of my goals, but mid‑season I didn’t perform as well as I wanted.
Elena took the top spot and played brilliantly. I can only focus on myself, stay in the moment and give my best, hoping I can take it back from her. It feels odd to play well and still lose the ranking, but that’s the beauty of sport – everyone chasing everyone, and it’s all about the little improvements that make the difference." Rybakina, the first Kazakh player ever to reach the No.1 ranking, echoed a similar mindset.
"It’s an important match, and because it’s a final I just want to win and give my best," she said. "I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself – the rankings are close, and even if something goes wrong I still have other tournaments left this year.
Playing against someone like Aryna pushes me to my limits and shows me where I need to improve." The final marks the first time since Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in 2013 that the top two seeds have met in the US Open women's final. Both athletes have a history of high‑stakes encounters: Sabalenka bested Rybakina in the 2023 Australian Open final, while Rybakina reversed the result in Melbourne earlier this year, setting up a compelling narrative for the New York showdown. Sabalenka has previously admitted that winning a third US Open title matters more to her than retaining the world No.1 ranking. Her performance coach, Jason Stacy, praised her self‑belief, stating, "Aryna is remembering who she is – she’s aligned with her strengths and knows what she’s capable of.
On a big stage, she knows she has to step up. This is her house, and the other players are guests – it’s time for them to leave." Former Belarusian star Max Mirnyi added perspective on Sabalenka’s suitability for the New York atmosphere. "She thrives under the spotlight and the pressure of night sessions.
The glamour, the crowds – she feeds off it, and that’s why she’s been so successful here," he said. Rybakina’s path to the final was equally dramatic. After a thrilling semi‑final victory over Coco Gauff, she secured her place opposite Sabalenka and moved one step closer to a potential third Grand Slam crown.
The two have now faced each other in three Grand Slam finals, each winning one, making this encounter a true battle of equals. Both players emphasized the mutual respect that fuels their rivalry.
Rybakina noted, "We push each other when we play these matches, and you can clearly see what you need to work on. It’s great to have an opponent who pushes you to the limit." Sabalenka responded, "Every match against Elena makes me want to improve my game. She’s a fantastic competitor and that drives me to raise my own level." The US Open final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis at 5 p.m. on Saturday, with streaming available on NOW and the Sky Sports app without a contract.
Fans can also enjoy related events such as the Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September. In summary, the showdown between Sabalenka and Rybakina is more than a contest for a trophy; it is a clash of narratives. Sabalenka seeks to cement her legacy with a historic three‑peat, while Rybakina aims to validate her newly acquired world No.1 status by capturing her first US Open title. Their contrasting motivations, combined with a shared respect for each other's abilities, promise a final that will be remembered for its intensity, drama, and the high stakes that define elite tennis.