Ruthless Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to claim first U.S. Open crown
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final to secure her third Grand Slam title. The victory marks a significant achievement for the Kazakh player, who overcame an ankle injury to reach the world number one ranking.
Why it matters
This result is a major development in professional tennis, shifting the hierarchy of the women's tour.
Elena Rybakina delivered a devastating performance to dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4 5-7 6-2 win in the U.S. Open final on Saturday (September 12, 2026), earning a third Grand Slam crown to accompany her ascent to world number one.
The Russian-born Kazakh's icy composure on the grand stage helped her snap Sabalenka's 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and denied the Belarusian the chance to emulate Serena Williams and Chris Evert with three straight New York titles.
An ankle injury had threatened to derail Rybakina's campaign even before the tournament started, but the 27-year-old shrugged off those concerns to add the U.S. Open title to her Australian Open triumph this year and Wimbledon success in 2022.
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