Elena Rybakina solidified her claim to the world No. 1 ranking by defeating two‑time US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final that awarded her first US Open trophy. The 27‑year‑old Kazakh displayed poise and power on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, overcoming a formidable opponent to win the match 6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑2 and, with the victory, ensured she would replace Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings the following week.
The final was more than a battle for a single title; it represented a pivotal moment in both players' careers. Sabalenka entered the match with the historic ambition of joining Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women to achieve a New York "three‑peat" in the Open Era. Instead, she was left seething in her chair, eventually smashing her racket in frustration as Rybakina celebrated what became her third Grand Slam triumph. Rybakina's path to the championship was far from straightforward.
An ankle injury that surfaced before the tournament threatened to derail her campaign. Despite the setback, she managed the pain with the help of her team, maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on each day as it came.
Her resilience paid off, as she added the US Open crown to an already impressive résumé that includes an Australian Open victory earlier in the year and a Wimbledon title in 2022. Reflecting on her achievement, Rybakina told Sky Sports Tennis, "Some magic is happening. I was so unlucky with the injury before the start of the tournament. I was going day by day and my team were quite positive.
Even in the beginning we didn't know how it was going to be, so I'm super happy and very proud. I still can't believe it." She also noted the mental challenge of reaching No.
1, saying, "I was relieved to get to No 1 but I knew there were two more matches to push and it would be such a milestone winning the tournament here, so I was focused and trying not to see too many messages. Everything was working today." The final itself featured all the hallmarks of a classic showdown between the top two players in the world. Rybakina, dressed in a striking yellow‑and‑black ensemble reminiscent of a bee, delivered sharp, aggressive groundstrokes, while Sabalenka countered with her trademark big serves.
The opening set saw Sabalenka commit a double fault, giving Rybakina a 3‑2 edge, and shortly after, the Belarusian received a code violation for hurling a ball into the stands. Sabalenka's frustration grew with each missed opportunity, contrasting sharply with Rybakina's composed demeanor as she tightened her grip on the first set and secured it.
In the second set, Sabalenka found a brief resurgence, producing a spectacular drop shot and a backhand cross‑court winner that forced a deciding third set. She roared after a backhand winner to clinch the opening game of the final set, but Rybakina soon reasserted her dominance, pulling ahead to a 5‑2 lead and ultimately sealing the match.
The victory left Sabalenka without a major title in 2026, while Rybakina celebrated her third Grand Slam win of the year. Post‑match, Sabalenka addressed the media, saying, "The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I'll try my very best. Thank you everyone. Thank you for all your support.
I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, an incredible result. Well deserved. Enjoy it tonight, and have fun.
So I can win some titles! I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess there's next year." She also explained her emotional outburst, noting that losing a Grand Slam final after aiming for a three‑peat made it difficult to contain her feelings, leading her to smash a racket and vent her disappointment. Former champions and commentators offered their perspectives. Martina Navratilova observed, "We do not see that.
Usually it's Sabalenka doing the bullying. I think that's why Sabalenka didn't know what to do. She's used to dictating, putting people on the defence.
Instead, it was all Rybakina doing that to her. I did not expect that. It's not that Sabalenka lost the match, Rybakina won it.
She earned that win. It will be back to the drawing board for Sabalenka.
What will she do next time if Rybakina is playing this well?" Marion Bartoli highlighted the significance of Rybakina's achievement, noting that the Kazakh had previously only reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. "That's extraordinary, to come here with all the pressure of the world, knowing she had the No 1 ranking on her racket, to actually go on and win the title. The way she bounced back at the beginning of the third set was absolutely extraordinary.
She just kept moving forward, attacking Sabalenka's serve constantly, putting her under immense pressure. Her ball‑striking is something else. She can do anything on the court.
She's only missing Roland Garros now to complete a career Grand Slam," Bartoli said. Laura Robson added, "We were excited about this final for good reason, because of how well we know both of these players perform on big occasions. For Rybakina, without even crowd support on her side, she just did not flinch.
Yes, you could maybe point to the double faults at the end, but under so much pressure, and Sabalenka trying everything to make a comeback in that third set, she just kept going for her shots. It is just unbelievable how hard both of these players hit the ball. Their timing is phenomenal.
The difference today was the backhand from Rybakina, which was lights out from start to finish." With this triumph, Rybakina not only claimed her third Grand Slam title of 2026 but also secured victories at three of the four majors, the French Open remaining the only one missing for a career Grand Slam. Her head‑to‑head record against Sabalenka now includes two Grand Slam final wins in the same year, underscoring a burgeoning rivalry that will shape women's tennis in the coming seasons. The win also marked several personal milestones: her 41st top‑10 victory, the 10th top‑10 win of the year, and her 49th overall win of 2026. The US Open final, broadcast live on Sky Sports, attracted a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium and a global audience eager to witness a historic shift at the summit of women's tennis.
Rybakina's ascent to the No. 1 ranking, combined with her composure under pressure and ability to adapt after injury, signals a new era of dominance that fans and analysts will watch closely as she aims to complete the career Grand Slam and defend her title next year.