Aryna Sabalenka loses No. 1 and US Open: How did Elena Rybakina take over?

Aryna Sabalenka’s US Open campaign ended with more than a painful final defeat. In just three days, the Belarusian lost the world No. 1 ranking and then watched her bid for a third straight US Open title disappear against Elena Rybakina. The collapse marked a rare low point in Sabalenka’s recent Grand Slam run, but her response afterward showed that she is already thinking about getting back to the top.Aryna Sabalenka loses world No. 1 ranking to Elena RybakinaThe warning signs had been building before Sabalenka even reached the US Open final.Rybakina had entered the tournament with a genuine chance to overtake Sabalenka at No. 1. Her rise had gained momentum after she defeated Sabalenka in the WTA Finals Riyadh championship match at the end of 2025.