New world No. 1 Elena Rybakina wins maiden US Open title in three-set thriller

Elena Rybakina Claims US Open Crown and No. 1 Ranking

Healfromzero.com – Elena Rybakina completed a remarkable night at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open women’s singles championship for the first time. The victory also guarantees that Rybakina will move to the top of the women’s rankings on Monday, replacing the opponent she overcame in a gripping final.

The Russian-born Kazakhstani player entered the match as the No. 2 seed, but she delivered the steadier tennis when the championship was on the line. Rybakina’s success at Flushing Meadows gives her a third Grand Slam title and follows her Australian Open triumph earlier this year.

It was also a major breakthrough in New York for the 27-year-old, whose previous visits to the tournament had not produced anything close to a title challenge. This time, she handled the pressure of a final against the world’s leading player, recovered after losing the second set, and finished with an emphatic ace.

A Fast Start Despite Serving Difficulties

Rybakina took control early, claiming the opening set 6-4 in only 44 minutes. Her first-serve percentage was unusually low during that stretch, with just 27% of first serves landing in, yet she still protected her delivery effectively.

She lost only eight of the 30 points played on her serve in the first set and did not face a break point. That ability to survive imperfect serving gave Rybakina an important platform against Sabalenka, who appeared unsettled and repeatedly showed her frustration toward herself and her coaching team.

Sabalenka, the Belarusian top seed, had arrived with a formidable recent history at the event. She won the US Open in 2024 and 2025, and had a chance to become only the third woman in the Open era to win three consecutive titles. Serena Williams and Chris Evert are the only women to have achieved that feat.

Instead, Sabalenka’s 19-match winning run at the tournament came to an end in the final. Her earlier US Open record also included a loss to Coco Gauff in the 2023 championship match, making this another significant chapter in a New York rivalry with the sport’s biggest occasions.

Sabalenka Forces a Decider

The second set showed why Sabalenka has remained one of the tour’s most dangerous competitors. She looked more composed as the match continued and moved ahead 5-4 with two opportunities to close out the set.

Rybakina refused to let the match slip away, pulling level on both occasions to make it 5-5. But Sabalenka eventually found enough control to take the set 7-5, extending the final into a deciding third set and restoring the possibility of a dramatic comeback.

For a moment, the momentum appeared to have shifted fully toward the defending champion. Rybakina, though, quickly reset after the disappointment of the second set and produced her strongest spell of the match when it mattered most.

Rybakina Takes Command in the Third Set

Rybakina began the final set with clear intent, breaking Sabalenka twice and racing to a 5-2 advantage. The lead left Sabalenka under intense pressure, and the frustrations that had surfaced early in the match returned as Rybakina moved within sight of the trophy.

On championship point, Rybakina struck an ace to end the contest. She celebrated a career-defining triumph, while Sabalenka threw her racket to the court before walking to the net to congratulate the new champion. After their brief embrace, Sabalenka returned to her seat and smashed the same racket.

The emotional contrast reflected the stakes of the occasion. Rybakina had secured both a landmark title and the No. 1 ranking; Sabalenka had seen her pursuit of a third straight US Open championship halted in the decisive set.

A Third Grand Slam and Historic Prize Money

Rybakina’s win brings her Grand Slam total to three, with her most recent major title before New York coming at the Australian Open earlier in the season. She also matched Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for the most tour titles in 2026, with three each.

The champion earned $5.5 million, the largest prize awarded in Grand Slam history. Beyond the financial milestone, the result reshapes the top of women’s tennis, with Rybakina set to occupy the world No. 1 position after overcoming the player who had held it.

“It’s tough to find words,” Rybakina said after the match. “I didn’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing with a little injury but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”

She also acknowledged the challenge presented by Sabalenka, describing her opponent as a “great champion.”

“It’s so difficult to play against you. You push to such limits. I was dying on the court and just tried to get all the possible balls … I can’t find the words, I am sorry.”

Rybakina thanked the fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and spoke about how differently this US Open had unfolded from her earlier appearances in New York.

“I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years and it was never successful. Nothing close to that. Its just incredible. I am falling in love with New York more and more and it’s more amazing memories for me,” Rybakina said.

Sabalenka, despite her visible disappointment, paid tribute to the new champion and to the crowd that supported her throughout the tournament.

“Obviously, I am disappointed but I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, incredible result,” Sabalenka said. “Well deserved, enjoy it, have fun tonight, tomorrow, and until the end of the season so I can play well and win some titles.”

The final underlined the depth at the top of the women’s game. Sabalenka remains a recent two-time US Open winner and one of the season’s three-title leaders, while Rybakina leaves New York with the sport’s biggest ranking, a historic paycheck, and a championship that changes the direction of her season.