Elena Rybakina Dethrones Aryna Sabalenka to Claim U.S. Open Title

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan returns a shot against Aryna Sabalenka in their Women’s Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Aryna Sabalenka will likely recall Elena Rybakina for years to come.

In the span of just four days, Rybakina dethroned Sabalenka from the world No. 1 ranking and then brought an end to her bid for a third consecutive U.S. Open title.

Deploying punishing baseline tennis in her first U.S. Open final, second-seeded Rybakina edged out top-seeded Sabalenka, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, before more than 23,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium, clinching her third major championship and first U.S. Open crown. After double-faulting on her first match point, Rybakina sealed the victory on her second opportunity with her 12th ace of the match.

Brad Pitt, Jake Paul, and former U.S. Open champions Jennifer Capriati and Gabriela Sabatini were among the notable faces in attendance.

Rybakina, the Russian-born Kazakhstani professional, captured the title shortly after retiring from her quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek at the Cincinnati Open due to a left ankle and foot injury.

Rybakina also defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final and the WTA Tour Finals final last year.

The victory snapped Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak in New York. She now stands at 4-5 in major finals.

Rybakina, who will officially claim the world No. 1 ranking on Monday, has accumulated 10 career victories over the world No. 1, including six against Sabalenka. Sabalenka leads their overall head-to-head 10-8, but Rybakina holds a narrow 8-7 advantage on hardcourts.

Rybakina will take home $5.5 million for the title, while Sabalenka, who has held the world No. 1 ranking for 99 consecutive weeks, earns $2.8 million.

In the decisive third set, Rybakina broke for a 2-1 lead when Sabalenka hit a forehand long on break point.

Rybakina showed no sign of nerves and calmly held serve at love to move ahead 4-2.

Serving for the match at 5-2, she closed it out on her second match point with an ace down the T. She recorded five aces in the final set alone.

With Sabalenka serving at 2-4, Rybakina converted the second break point with a forehand volley winner following an approach shot up the line.

In the opening set, Sabalenka double-faulted on break point to gift Rybakina a 3-2 lead.

On the second set point while serving at 5-4, Rybakina closed it out with commanding baseline play, moving Sabalenka from side to side before Sabalenka ultimately sailed a backhand long.

With Rybakina serving at 4-5, 15-40 in the second set, Sabalenka held two set points. Rybakina saved both, then held serve with a forehand winner into the corner that Sabalenka was unable to retrieve.

However, with Rybakina serving at 5-6 to stay in the second set, she was undone when Sabalenka struck a massive backhand return winner.

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