Rybakina Beats Sabalenka To Win First U.S. Open Title

Elena Rybakina is the new U.S. Open champion after she ended the New York reign of Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the championship match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday. 

“It’s tough to find the words right now,” said Rybakina. “Honestly, I didn’t expect anything like this coming from this tournament.”

Rybakina came into the Open nursing a left ankle and foot injury as she even withdrew from her match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati the week before after just five games. But with the world number one spot on the line, and a chance at her third career major title and first in New York, Rybakina delivered an incredible two weeks of tennis. 

“I’ve been dealing a little bit with injury, but somehow everything aligned on my side…I [have been] coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful,” she said. “Nothing close to that, and it’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.”

A rematch of the Australian Open earlier this year, the two traded the opening sets which left the final to fittingly be decided by a third set. Rybakina secured the edge she needed with a break for a 2-1 lead, and bolstered her advantage with another break for 5-2. 

Rybakina completed her win with an ace up the T, her 12th of the match, to seal the title, and claim her New York throne. Just by reaching the semifinals, Rybakina had sealed the top spot in the world, but she cemented that ranking with the U.S. Open trophy.

“It’s going to be very different to wake up [tomorrow] morning knowing that I just won the U.S. Open and achieved the No. 1 ranking,” said Rybakina. “It’s kind of a relief because you do all the routines for the past two, three weeks. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of nerves also. I feel that it’s going to be amazing to wake up knowing I achieved such big things.”

Sabalenka’s reign atop the WTA rankings ends at 99 consecutive weeks, and 2026 marks the first year since 2022 where she has not won a major. 

“Overall, I should be happy with the level I played, and there are lots of things to take from this tournament,” said Sabalenka. “As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season already made me stronger. But it’s definitely going to motivate me for next year to do a better job.”