US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina Defeats Aryna Sabalenka to Win First US Open Crown
2026 has become a memorable year in Elena Rybakina’s career. After the Australian Open, she also won the US Open, cementing her dominance by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in both Grand Slam finals.
New York: Elena Rybakina has added another landmark achievement to an already remarkable 2026 season, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final to lift the New York title for the first time.
Rybakina survived a closely fought three-set contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium, defeating the two-time defending champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory earned her a third Grand Slam trophy and completed her rise to the summit of women’s tennis.
Representing Kazakhstan, Rybakina has also become the first woman from the country to reach the No. 1 position in the WTA rankings. Her triumph simultaneously brought an end to Sabalenka’s 99-week spell at the top and stopped her from winning three consecutive US Open championships.
Rybakina Takes Control When It Matters
The championship match lived up to the expectations surrounding two of the most powerful players on the women’s tour.
Both Rybakina and Sabalenka looked to dominate from the back of the court, producing a series of hard-hitting exchanges. Rybakina’s serve and ability to generate power from both sides helped her establish an early advantage.
She secured the opening set 6-4, but Sabalenka refused to let the match slip away.
The Belarusian increased the pressure in the second set and succeeded in taking Rybakina out of her preferred rhythm. Sabalenka eventually levelled the contest by winning the set 7-5, setting up a deciding third set.
Rybakina, however, produced her best tennis when the championship was on the line.
She remained composed during the crucial stages, made better use of her opportunities and kept Sabalenka under pressure. The third set quickly moved in her favour, with Rybakina winning it 6-2 to secure the biggest title of her US Open career.
Three Grand Slam Titles and Counting
Rybakina’s victory in New York takes her Grand Slam tally to three.
Her first major title came at Wimbledon in 2022. She then added the Australian Open crown in 2026 before completing her latest triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Interestingly, Sabalenka has been the runner-up on both of Rybakina’s Grand Slam victories this year. The pair met in the Australian Open final earlier in 2026, where Rybakina emerged victorious.
That leaves Rybakina just one major championship short of a career Grand Slam. She has now won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open, with the French Open the only missing piece.
From Ranking Challenger to World No. 1
Rybakina’s move to No. 1 was confirmed even before she played the championship match.
Her place in the US Open semi-finals had already guaranteed that she would overtake Sabalenka in the rankings. Winning the title has given the achievement an even more emphatic finish.
The new rankings, due to be released on Monday, will officially place Rybakina at No. 1.
Sabalenka’s 99-week reign will consequently come to an end. Her uninterrupted stay at the top ranks sixth in the history of the WTA rankings.
For Rybakina, the milestone is historic in another way: she is the first woman representing Kazakhstan to become the world’s top-ranked player.
Sabalenka Misses Out on a Rare Three-Peat
Sabalenka entered the 2026 US Open as the player to beat in New York.
She had captured the women’s singles title in 2024 and 2025 and was attempting to make it three championships in a row.
Such an achievement would have put her alongside an elite group of players. In the Open Era, Serena Williams and Chris Evert have previously won the US Open women’s singles title three years consecutively.
Rybakina prevented Sabalenka from joining that list.
Despite recovering strongly in the second set, Sabalenka was unable to match Rybakina’s intensity in the decider. Her defeat ended her hopes of extending her US Open dominance and also cost her the No. 1 ranking.
A Rivalry That Produced Another Major Final
Rybakina and Sabalenka have developed one of the most competitive rivalries in modern women’s tennis.
Going into the US Open final, they had already met 17 times. Sabalenka had won 10 of those encounters, while Rybakina had seven victories.
Their rivalry took another significant turn during the 2026 season.
Rybakina first defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final and then repeated the result at the US Open. Winning two Grand Slam finals against the same opponent in a single season has further enhanced Rybakina’s credentials at the highest level.
Rybakina’s Journey Began in Moscow
The new world No. 1 was born in Moscow, Russia, on June 17, 1999.
She started playing tennis when she was six and initially represented Russia. In 2018, she switched her sporting representation to Kazakhstan.
The change coincided with a period of rapid development in her career. Rybakina turned professional in 2014 and began making steady progress on the WTA Tour.
Her first WTA singles title came at the Bucharest Open in 2019. In 2020, she broke into the world’s top 20 for the first time.
Since then, she has continued to establish herself as one of the leading players on the women’s circuit.
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Wimbledon Was the Turning Point
Rybakina’s first Grand Slam breakthrough arrived at Wimbledon in 2022.
Her run at the tournament ended with her winning the biggest title of her career at that stage. The triumph immediately raised her profile and confirmed that she could compete with the best players on the biggest stages.
Her game has been built around a formidable serve, powerful baseline hitting and a notably calm approach during high-pressure moments.
The US Open, however, had remained one of the few major tournaments where she had yet to make a deep run. Before 2026, her best performance in New York was a third-round appearance.
Winning the title this year therefore represents a major addition to her Grand Slam record.
2026 Has Been a Breakthrough Year
Rybakina’s extraordinary campaign began in Australia.
She won the 2026 Australian Open after defeating Sabalenka in the final. Her results over the course of the season kept her within touching distance of the top ranking.
Her résumé also included the 2025 WTA Finals title before she arrived in New York.
A series of strong performances throughout the year eventually put her in position to take the No. 1 ranking away from Sabalenka.
She has now gone a step further by pairing that ranking breakthrough with another Grand Slam championship.
Played Through Fitness Concerns
Rybakina’s US Open campaign began against the backdrop of an injury concern.
She had been dealing with an ankle problem before the tournament, creating doubts about whether she would be able to compete at full strength.
She nevertheless chose to enter the tournament.
Rather than fading as the competition became tougher, Rybakina appeared to gain confidence with every round. She progressed through the draw and eventually reached the semi-finals.
Comeback Against Gauff Secured the Top Ranking
Coco Gauff was Rybakina’s opponent in the semi-final.
The match initially went against Rybakina as she dropped the opening set. She responded impressively, winning the next two sets to complete the comeback and reach the championship match.
Her semi-final appearance was enough to officially secure the No. 1 ranking, making her the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top position.
The final then presented her with a chance to finish the tournament with both the ranking and the trophy.
She delivered on both fronts by overcoming Sabalenka in three sets.
Sabalenka’s Numbers in New York Remain Impressive
Sabalenka may have fallen short in the final, but her record at the US Open remains one of the strongest in recent women’s tennis.
She had reached at least the final at eight successive hard-court Grand Slam tournaments. Before the 2026 edition, she had won 40 of her 46 matches at Flushing Meadows, giving her an impressive 40-6 record.
Against Rybakina, she demonstrated her ability to fight back after losing the first set and forced the match into a decider.
But the final set belonged entirely to Rybakina. Sabalenka could not sustain the momentum she had created in the second set, allowing her opponent to close out the championship.
A Historic Achievement for Kazakhstan
Rybakina’s rise has also become an important story for Kazakhstan.
Since choosing to represent the country in 2018, she has emerged as one of its biggest names in international tennis. Her Grand Slam success had already given Kazakhstan a prominent place on the sport’s biggest stage.
Becoming the world No. 1 now takes that association to another level.
Her career is also notable for the distinction between her birthplace and her sporting representation. Although she was born in Moscow, she has achieved her biggest international milestones while representing Kazakhstan.
French Open Remains the Final Piece
Rybakina now owns three Grand Slam titles — Wimbledon in 2022, followed by the Australian Open and US Open in 2026.
Only the French Open remains for her to complete the career Grand Slam.
A title at Roland-Garros in the future would mean she had won all four major championships at least once.
For the moment, though, Rybakina can celebrate a season that has already transformed her status in tennis. She is a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2026, a maiden US Open winner and the new world No. 1.