Elena Rybakina won her first US Open title on Saturday, September 12, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The final lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes and ended her opponent's bid for a third consecutive New York crown. For the Kazakh, it was a third Grand Slam trophy and a second of 2026.
A break for 3-2 put Rybakina in control of the opening set. Sabalenka responded in the second: she held under pressure at 5-5, then broke in the next game to force a decider. Rybakina had to establish her advantage again after that shift in momentum.
She broke early once more, moving ahead 2-1 in the third set, and extended the lead to 5-2 with a volley winner. Serving for the championship, she double-faulted on her first match point but answered with an ace on the second. Her 12th ace of the match delivered the title.
Her effectiveness on serve helps explain the finish. Rybakina won 35 of 41 points behind her first serve, according to the official statistics. In the deciding set, she lost just three points in her service games and faced no break point. Sabalenka had no opening to recover either break.
On Monday, September 14, Rybakina will become the WTA's World No. 1 for the first time. She had already secured that promotion by reaching the semifinals; the final added a trophy to an achievement settled earlier in the tournament. She will be the 30th woman to lead the rankings.
Her preparation had been far from straightforward. Speaking after the title, Rybakina said an Achilles problem had kept her away from her racquet for seven days, with practice resuming only four days before the tournament. During her run, she beat Osaka and recovered from a set down against both Zheng and Gauff.
Already the Wimbledon champion in 2022 and Australian Open champion in 2026, also at Sabalenka's expense in the final, Rybakina now owns titles at three of the four majors. Roland Garros remains the missing tournament in her quest for a career Grand Slam.
Sources: US Open/USTA final report and interview on Rybakina's preparation, September 12, 2026; WTA final report and official match statistics.