Elena Rybakina Defeats Aryna Sabalenka to Win 2026 US Open/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her first US Open title. The victory secured Rybakina’s third Grand Slam championship and accompanied her rise to No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak in New York and collected a record $5.5 million prize.
Quick Look
- Final score: Rybakina defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
- It was Rybakina’s first US Open championship.
- She will replace Sabalenka as the world’s No. 1 player.
- Rybakina has won three Grand Slam singles titles.
- She also defeated Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final.
- Sabalenka’s 19-match US Open winning streak ended.
- Rybakina received a record $5.5 million.
- Sabalenka earned $2.8 million as runner-up.
- Rybakina needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.
Deep Look
Rybakina captures her first US Open championship
NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina completed her rise to the top of women’s tennis by taking both the No. 1 ranking and the US Open trophy from Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina defeated the two-time defending champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in Saturday’s final, transforming a tournament where she had previously struggled into the scene of her latest major triumph.
She had already accumulated enough ranking points to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 when the new WTA rankings were released. Winning the championship completed her highly successful run through New York.
“It’s still so difficult to process what happened,” Rybakina said. “Too many achievements these few weeks.”
The victory gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam singles championship and her second of the season. Both of her 2026 major titles came against Sabalenka on hard courts, including her Australian Open victory at the beginning of the year.
Sabalenka’s New York winning streak ends
Rybakina ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open. The Belarusian had not lost at Flushing Meadows since Coco Gauff defeated her in the 2023 final.
Sabalenka won the tournament in each of the next two years and was attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012 through 2014 to capture three consecutive US Open singles championships.
Sabalenka received $2.8 million as the runner-up, but displayed her disappointment by smashing her racket after briefly embracing Rybakina at the net.
“I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today,” Sabalenka said. “Not good enough.”
Rybakina receives record prize
Rybakina collected $5.5 million for winning the championship, the largest individual prize in Grand Slam tennis history.
The title was her third of the season, tying Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for the highest total on the WTA Tour in 2026.
Rybakina also became the latest women’s player to win two major championships during the same season.
Strong return game compensates for serving problems
Rybakina defeated Sabalenka despite not producing her best serving performance.
The WTA Tour’s leader in aces landed fewer than half of her first serves. She compensated by repeatedly pressuring Sabalenka with an aggressive and effective return game.
Rybakina created 12 break-point opportunities and converted three of them. Those three breaks proved sufficient to win the match.
The final was only the third meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 players in a US Open women’s championship match since 2000. It was the first during that period to be won by the lower-ranked challenger.
Serena Williams was the top-ranked player in the other two finals, defeating Venus Williams in 2002 and Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
The rankings in this year’s final carried an unusual significance because the two players were already set to exchange positions. Sabalenka had occupied the No. 1 spot for 99 consecutive weeks, but Rybakina accumulated enough points to pass her by reaching the semifinals.
She then continued through the final and took the trophy as well.
Rybakina moves closer to career Grand Slam
The 27-year-old Rybakina was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan internationally.
She captured her first Grand Slam championship at Wimbledon in 2022. Her victories at the 2026 Australian Open and US Open leave the French Open as the only major title she needs to complete a career Grand Slam.
Her natural power and ability to absorb an opponent’s hardest shots caused problems for Sabalenka throughout Saturday’s final.
“Her serve is amazing, the way she’s able to step in and overpower you on court, and especially if it’s a U.S. Open court where it’s super fast, it’s definitely a huge advantage for her,” Sabalenka said. “A lot of things make her dangerous.”
Contrasting styles define the matchup
Sabalenka generates power with an aggressive swing and significant physical effort, often accompanying her hardest shots with a loud “Aaaaahhhh!”
Rybakina produces comparable power with a smoother and quieter delivery. The sounds from her side of the court are often limited to the contact of the ball and the movement of her shoes.
She also rarely displays obvious anxiety or frustration during matches.
“I think Elena is probably — not nonchalant, I don’t want to say that, because she’s not nonchalant — but just no reaction ever,” Gauff said after losing to Rybakina in the semifinals.
Rybakina briefly showed frustration after sending a backhand wide on a break-point opportunity during the opening game of the third set. She quickly regained control, however, and dominated the remainder of the deciding set.
Sabalenka entered final with rivalry advantage
Sabalenka had won the players’ two previous encounters during the season, defeating Rybakina on the hard courts at Indian Wells and Miami.
She continues to lead their head-to-head rivalry 10-8 despite losing both of their Grand Slam finals in 2026.
Sabalenka’s form declined after her victories at Indian Wells and Miami. She lost to Naomi Osaka in Wimbledon’s fourth round and then recorded consecutive fourth-round exits in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Those struggles appeared to be behind her when she returned to New York, where she had reached four consecutive finals and at least the semifinals six times.
Rybakina ultimately ended that run.
Rybakina overcomes injury and difficult US Open history
Rybakina arrived in New York after a foot injury forced her to stop playing during her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek.
She took a short break and recovered in time for the US Open, a tournament where she had never advanced beyond the fourth round before this year.
“I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful — nothing close to that,” Rybakina said. “It’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.”
Her victory made her the official WTA world No. 1 with three singles titles and a 49-13 record during the 2026 season.
Rybakina takes control of the opening set
Sabalenka repeatedly looked toward her coaching box with her palms raised as she struggled during the opening set.
Her frustration intensified when she double-faulted to give Rybakina a 3-2 lead. Rybakina returned the serve, and the ball bounced toward Sabalenka, who struck it into the crowd and received a warning from the chair umpire.
Rybakina protected the advantage and closed out the first set 6-4.
Sabalenka forces a deciding set
Sabalenka applied more consistent pressure to Rybakina’s serve during the second set.
She earned two break points while leading 5-4 and had an opportunity to end the set. Rybakina responded by winning four straight points and escaping the game.
Sabalenka created another opportunity in Rybakina’s following service game. This time, she stepped forward to attack a return and forced an error, securing the break and taking the set 7-5.
Rybakina responded decisively in the third, winning it 6-2 to complete the championship victory and officially end Sabalenka’s reign at Flushing Meadows.
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