Elena Rybakina delivered a commanding performance at the US Open on Saturday, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 scoreline. This victory earned the 27-year-old her third career Grand Slam title and coincides with her rise to the world number one ranking.
The Russian-born Kazakh star demonstrated exceptional focus throughout the match, effectively snapping Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. The win also blocked the Belarusian from joining tennis legends Serena Williams and Chris Evert in the history books, as she had been seeking her third consecutive title in New York.
Rybakina’s journey to the trophy was far from certain, as she battled an ankle injury leading up to the event. Despite these concerns, she managed to secure the title, adding to her 2022 Wimbledon success and her Australian Open triumph earlier this year. She now stands as only the third woman this century, joining Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber, to win both hardcourt majors in a single calendar year.
Reflecting on her unexpected success, Rybakina admitted it was difficult to process the win. She expressed her growing affection for New York and gratitude toward the spectators for the atmosphere. While admitting the recent weeks had been overwhelming, she noted her pride in the hard work that led to the achievement.
On the other side of the net, Sabalenka, who will finish the season without a major title for the first time since 2022, was gracious in defeat. Acknowledging her own performance, the 28-year-old remarked that Rybakina was simply the better player on the day, particularly noting the strength of her opponent’s serve and aggressive play style.
The final was a contest between two of the tour’s most powerful hitters. Rybakina utilized her formidable serve to pressure Sabalenka, piling up 12 break points throughout the match and converting three. The decisive moment in the opening set came in the fifth game, where Rybakina forced Sabalenka back with deep groundstrokes, eventually breaking her serve.
Sabalenka showed resilience in the second set, clawing back to break Rybakina for the first time in the final game to force a deciding set. However, the reprieve was brief. Rybakina regained her momentum early in the third, and despite facing a minor hurdle with two double faults while serving for the match, she sealed the victory with an emphatic ace.
Following the final point, the two competitors shared a brief embrace at the net. A visibly disappointed Sabalenka was seen smashing her racquet in her chair as Rybakina celebrated the victory with the crowd. Sabalenka later stated that she was not happy with her level of play, but she expressed hopes for a better outcome in next year’s tournament. The report also notes that somehow, everything aligned together on my side. The report also notes that you push me to the limit. “I want to say thank you to the beautiful spectators for such a beautiful atmosphere. The report also notes that i’m falling in love with New York more and more. The report also notes that it feels amazing,” Rybakina said. “It’s still so difficult to process what happened. The report also notes that too much achievements these few weeks. The report also notes that very proud of all the work, i’m super happy. The report also notes that where the 2024 and 2025 champion hadn’t lost since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final, she ended Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak in Flushing Meadows. The report also notes that i wish I could have performed a little better,” Sabalenka told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, her voice breaking, “but I guess next year.
