World Number 1 Elena Rybakina won her first US Open title after defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory marked her third Grand
Slam singles title, following Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier in 2026. The 27-year-old, who represents Kazakhstan, arrived in New York dealing with a painful ankle/foot injury sustained in Cincinnati that left her unable to walk without discomfort for days. She managed the issue carefully, limited practice, and still powered through the draw, including wins over Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen, and Coco Gauff. In the final she stayed composed against the more emotional Sabalenka and managed to get the job done.
Rybakina’s powerful serve and groundstrokes, combined with remarkable mental steadiness, proved to be the difference. She finished the match with an ace on championship point after a couple of nervous double faults, raising her arms in one of her more expressive celebrations. The win capped an outstanding 2026 for the 27 year old and ensured her status as the best player in women’s tennis right now.
TOP OF THE WORLD 🌎
Elena Rybakina defeats Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her first US Open title! pic.twitter.com/7XA520vTei
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026
Reflecting on her history in New York she said, “I was coming here for the last 10 years and it was never successful, nothing close to that. I’m falling in love with New York more and more. It’s amazing memories for me.”
“Tough to Find Words Right Now”: Rybakina Reacts After Beating Sabalenka in US Open Final
The final was a high-quality battle between the top two players. Rybakina took the first set 6-4 thanks to an early break and strong return that put Sabalenka back. The Belarusian raised her level in the second, breaking late to force a decider at 7-5. In the third set Rybakina reasserted control, breaking early for 2-1 and again to lead 5-2. Serving for the title she double-faulted on her first championship point but recovered immediately, closing it out with her 12th ace of the match. The scoreline was 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 after 2 hours 21 minutes.
Rybakina remained calm while Sabalenka showed visible frustration, at one point smashing her racket after the match. Rybakina’s biggest celebration of her three Slam wins came with a smile and both arms raised. On court afterward she said: “It’s tough to find words right now. I didn’t expect anything like this coming into the tournament. I’ve been dealing a bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”
Speaking about her opponent Sabalenka directly she said: “Aryna, you are a great champion. It’s so difficult to play against you. You push me to such limits. I was diving on the court just trying to get all the possible balls.” She also spoke of some magic happening and said she still couldn’t quite believe the result after the injury scare.
