Elena Rybakina Wins the 2026 US Open and Takes Down Aryna Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina has crowned her rise to the top of women's tennis with a US Open title and a victory over Aryna Sabalenka. The Kazakh star defeated the two-time defending champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final to claim the third Grand Slam title of her career.

Rybakina had already secured the world number one ranking before Saturday's final, regardless of the result. However, she made her arrival at the top even more convincing by defeating the player she is set to replace at the summit.

The Kazakh was the more composed player throughout much of the match. Her first serve was not operating at its usual level in the opening set, but she remained calm and compensated with an exceptional return game. Her deep returns repeatedly pushed Sabalenka behind the baseline and prevented the Belarusian from establishing the aggressive rhythm that has become one of her trademarks.

Sabalenka raised her level in the second set as Rybakina's intensity dropped slightly. The contest became increasingly tight, and the Belarusian finally took advantage in the 12th game, attacking Rybakina's second serve to break on her third opportunity and force a deciding set.

The momentum shifted once again in the third. Sabalenka's unforced errors returned, along with signs of growing frustration. Rybakina's deep returning kept her opponent pinned to the baseline, and after breaking for a 2-1 lead, the incoming world number one began to take complete control of the match.

There was one brief moment of tension when Rybakina produced a double fault on her first championship point. But she immediately reset, delivered an ace and closed out the match in emphatic fashion.

The victory added another major trophy to a remarkable career that already includes her 2022 Wimbledon triumph and this year's Australian Open title.

A New York Triumph Few Saw Coming

Rybakina's achievement becomes even more impressive when the circumstances surrounding her arrival in New York are considered.

The 27-year-old had never previously advanced beyond the last 16 at the US Open. More importantly, there were serious doubts about whether she would even be fit enough to compete after suffering an ankle injury during the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals.

Rybakina was unable to walk properly for several days after the injury, putting her participation in New York in considerable doubt. Yet once she arrived, she quickly put those concerns behind her.

She dominated her first four matches, with a powerful serving performance that repeatedly prevented opponents from settling into rallies. As the tournament progressed, however, she showed another dimension to her game.

Her victories over China's Zheng Qinwen and home favorite Coco Gauff were considerably harder fought. Rybakina lost the opening sets in both matches but responded with the resilience required to survive difficult encounters.

Against Sabalenka, she combined both sides of her game. She applied relentless pressure from the baseline while remaining patient and disciplined when the match demanded it. The victory leaves her just one French Open title away from completing the career Grand Slam.

"Some magic is happening. I was unlucky with injury and just went day by day," Rybakina told Sky Sports. She admitted that she was still struggling to believe what she had achieved after arriving in New York with so much uncertainty surrounding her fitness.

Another Grand Slam Final Ends in Disappointment for Sabalenka

For Sabalenka, the final represented more than an opportunity to defend her US Open crown. It was also a chance to respond immediately after losing the world number one ranking to Rybakina.

But the pressure was evident from the early stages. Rybakina's outstanding return game made life difficult for Sabalenka, while the Belarusian's frustration appeared to influence some of her shot selection.

An aggressive second serve went long as a double fault on a crucial break point in the opening set, handing Rybakina an important advantage.

Sabalenka showed the fighting qualities that have helped her reach the top of the sport and recovered in the second set. Yet she never looked completely comfortable, and the mistakes returned in the decider.

Her emotions were visible throughout the match. She shouted, threw her arms into the air, bounced her racquet against the court and at times disappeared beneath her towel in an attempt to release the tension. But none of those reactions could help her produce the comeback required to win the championship.

The defeat means Sabalenka has now lost five of her nine Grand Slam finals. Considering her sustained dominance on the WTA Tour, the statistic will inevitably fuel further debate about whether she has converted her extraordinary regular-season form into enough success on the sport's biggest stages.

Speaking emotionally to the crowd of around 24,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka admitted that making a speech was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment. She nevertheless thanked the crowd and acknowledged that she wished she could have produced a better performance before looking ahead to another attempt next year.

The rivalry between Rybakina and Sabalenka is becoming one of the most fascinating matchups in women's tennis, not only because of their immense ability but also because of their contrasting personalities.

Rybakina's calm, almost ice-cold demeanor contrasts sharply with Sabalenka's explosive emotional energy. In New York, that difference proved decisive.

By the end of the night, Rybakina had claimed more than a Grand Slam trophy. She had also taken the world number one ranking and further established herself as one of the defining players of the 2026 season.

With three major titles already to her name this year, the Kazakh star now stands only one French Open championship away from completing the career Grand Slam.