New York, Sept 2026 : Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open women's singles title, completing a remarkable Grand Slam season with her third major championship.
The Kazakh player prevailed in a high-quality final that lasted two hours and 21 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory marked Rybakina's first US Open title and also completed a remarkable bookend to her 2026 Grand Slam campaign, after she defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January.
Rybakina's victory leaves her just one Grand Slam title short of completing a career Grand Slam, with the French Open at Roland Garros the only major crown missing from her collection.
Her triumph in New York also had a significant impact on the WTA rankings. During her run to the title, Rybakina ended Sabalenka's 99-week reign at the top of the rankings. She accumulated enough points to move to world No. 1 when the latest rankings are released on Monday.
The 2026 season has been particularly impressive for Rybakina. She became only the third player since 2000 to win both the Australian Open and US Open in the same year, joining Germany's Angelique Kerber, who achieved the feat in 2016, and Sabalenka, who did so in 2024.
The US Open crown is Rybakina's third title of the year and the 14th of her career. Her victory also improved her head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 8-10 on the WTA Tour.
Interestingly, Rybakina's last three victories over Sabalenka have all come on major stages. She defeated the Belarusian in the WTA Finals championship match last year, followed it with victory in the Australian Open final in January, and then secured another win in Saturday's US Open championship match.
By overcoming Sabalenka, Rybakina also became the first player since Serena Williams in 2002 to defeat the defending women's singles champion in a US Open final. She is also the first player since Madison Keys at the 2025 Australian Open to defeat a defending women's singles champion in a Grand Slam final.
Rybakina's latest triumph ended Sabalenka's hopes of winning at least one Grand Slam title for a fourth consecutive year. Sabalenka had captured her first major at the 2023 Australian Open, where she defeated Rybakina in the final.
The latest final thus added another chapter to one of the most compelling rivalries in women's tennis, with Rybakina emerging as the dominant player on the biggest stages in 2026.
