Elena Rybakina won her first US Open title on Saturday, beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 to win the U.S. Open final on Arthur Ashe Stadium for a second Grand Slam crown of 2026 – after January’s Australian Open – and a third overall.
She does it as the sport’s new world No. 1, taking over the top ranking on Monday.
The Russian-born Kazakh’s icy composure on the grand stage helped her snap Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and denied the Belarusian the chance to emulate Serena Williams and Chris Evert with three straight New York titles.
“It’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said on court. “I didn’t expect anything like this coming into this tournament. I’d been dealing a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned on my side.”
An ankle injury had threatened to derail Rybakina’s campaign even before the tournament started, but the 27-year-old shrugged off those concerns to add the U.S. Open title to her Australian Open triumph this year and Wimbledon success in 2022.
“It’s tough to find words … I didn’t expect anything like this coming into the tournament,” said Rybakina, who became only the third woman this century to claim both hardcourt majors in the same year after Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber.
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Saturday’s title showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium had all the ingredients of a classic between the top two in the rankings, and though Sabalenka brought late aggression, Rybakina was typically unruffled and prevailed to pocket the $5.5 million prize.
“It’s going to be different to wake up the next morning knowing you’ve won the U.S. Open and achieved the world number one ranking,” said Rybakina, who collected her trophy from Russian five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.
“It’s a relief, because you do all the routines for the past two to three weeks. It’s a lot of work, a lot of nerves also.”
The opening set stayed on serve until Rybakina broke in the fifth game, the only break of the set. Sabalenka hit back to take a close second, forcing a decider.
It did not stay close long in the final set.
Rybakina broke early in the third for 2-1 and again for 5-2. She sealed the title on her 12th ace, closing out the win in two hours and 21 minutes. She won 85% of her first-serve points and made just 24 unforced errors to Sabalenka’s 35.
“You are a great champion. It’s so difficult to play against you. You push to such limits,” she said of Sabalenka. “I was studying on the court, just trying to get all the possible balls.”
It was an eighth meeting with Sabalenka since the start of 2025, and their fourth this season.
Rybakina has been the victor in both of their Grand Slam final appearances in 2026, also having won her title in Melbourne against Sabalenka. But the Kazakh had lost their previous two-in-a-row: the Indian Wells final and the Miami semifinal.
Sabalenka won their first Grand Slam final, at the 2023 Australian Open. She still leads the rivalry 10-8.
“I’d been coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful. Nothing close to that,” said Rybakina. “I’m falling in love with New York more and more.”
