Elena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka to win US Open title and reach world No. 1

Elena Rybakina has won her first US Open title, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory marks the third Grand Slam title of Rybakina’s career, following her 2022 Wimbledon win and her triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year. With this result, the 27-year-old from Kazakhstan has cemented her position as the new world No. 1, a ranking she was guaranteed to achieve upon reaching the tournament semifinals.

The final match saw Rybakina maintain a composed demeanor throughout the three-set contest. In contrast, the top-seeded Sabalenka struggled with her emotions as she attempted to become only the third woman in the Open era to secure a three-peat at the US Open. Following the loss, Sabalenka was observed expressing her frustration on the court, while Rybakina celebrated the win with a reserved reaction, consistent with her typical on-court persona.

Rybakina’s path to the title was complicated by an Achilles injury sustained in Cincinnati shortly before the tournament began. The injury forced her to take a week off from the court, and she entered the Flushing Meadows campaign with uncertainty regarding her physical condition. Rybakina noted that she and her team took the tournament day by day, and she credited her success to a combination of perseverance and favorable circumstances.

The match served as a continuation of a significant rivalry, as Rybakina has now recorded ten career victories over world No. 1 players, six of which have come against Sabalenka. This latest win completes a notable hard-court double for the season, as Rybakina had previously defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.

Following her victory, Rybakina acknowledged the difficulty of the tournament given her physical setbacks. With this win, she now holds three of the four major titles, leaving only the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. Sabalenka, meanwhile, saw her winning streak at the US Open come to an end after two years of dominance at the event.