Rybakina Dethrones 2-Time Defending Champion Sabalenka To Win First US Open Title, Takes World No. 1 Spot

Elena Rybakina turned a tournament that had repeatedly frustrated her into the stage for the biggest breakthrough of her career, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her first US Open title and complete her rise to the top of women’s tennis.

Rybakina had already secured the points needed to replace Sabalenka as world No. 1 next week. On Saturday, she went a step further by taking away the trophy that had belonged to her rival for the previous two years.

The victory gave the Kazakhstan representative her third Grand Slam title and her second major of the season, having also beaten Sabalenka in the Australian Open final. She now needs only the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

The result ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open and denied her the chance to become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014 to win the New York title three years in a row.

Rybakina did not even need her best serving performance to prevail. The WTA Tour leader in aces struggled to land even half of her first serves, but repeatedly put Sabalenka under pressure with her returns. She created 12 break-point opportunities and converted three, enough to keep control of the deciding set.

Sabalenka, who had spent 99 consecutive weeks at No. 1, struggled badly for consistency. She committed 35 unforced errors and became increasingly frustrated, smashing a racket during the match before destroying another after the defeat.

“I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside,” Sabalenka said, acknowledging how difficult it was to control her emotions while chasing a historic three-peat.

Rybakina, meanwhile, remained remarkably composed. Born in Russia and representing Kazakhstan, the 27-year-old had never gone beyond the fourth round in New York before this year.

Her breakthrough was particularly striking after she had been forced to stop a Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek because of a foot injury.

After years of disappointment at Flushing Meadows, Rybakina finally found her moment, and it came at the expense of the player who had dominated the tournament before her.

“I’m falling in love with New York more and more,” Rybakina said.

The US Open has now given her much more than a trophy. It has given her the No. 1 ranking, another Grand Slam title and a defining victory over one of her biggest rivals.