Rybakina wins US Open, Sabalenka snaps

• Elena Rybakina wins US Open title after defeating Aryna Sabalenka
• Rybakina beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her third major
• Rybakina overcame a pre-tournament injury to secure the victory

Aryna Sabalenka had history in sight, but it was the new No.1 Elena Rybakina who emerged victorious in the US Open final, defeating the Belarusian 6-4,

5-7, 6-2 to win her third major title. Sabalenka had won the tournament in 2024 and 2025, and was eyeing becoming only the third woman in the Open Era to complete a hat trick of US Open titles; however, Rybakina was way too strong. The defeat left Sabalenka devastated, and she lost control of her emotions, smashing her racquet on the ground. Moreover, when Sabalenka was sitting with her team after the trophy ceremony, a cameraman approached her; however, she furiously told the cameraman to go away. The frustration over the defeat was clearly visible on her face.

Aryna Sabalenka destruyó su raqueta tras perder la final del US Open. pic.twitter.com/pBwbhadA3y

— Tiempo De Tenis (@Tiempodetenis1) September 12, 2026

pic.twitter.com/6fJsdiSDir

— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) September 12, 2026

How It Happened

Rybakina was clearly the better of the two players at the US Open final. She took the first set 6-4, but Sabalenka bounced back to claim the second set 5-7. Rybakina, however, turned on the heat in the final set to demolish Sabalenka, winning 6-2. Statistically, the game was dominated by the Russian. Rybakina won 85 percent of her first serve points in comparison to Sabalenka's 69 percent. The high first serve percentage meant that Rybakina didn't give many opportunities to Sabalenka to break. She conceded only thrtee break points and was able to save two of them.

Sabalenka, on the other hand, conceded 12 break points and was broken thrice. In terms of unforced errors, Rybakina was more clinical, making 24 unforced errors. Sabalenka, meanwhile, made far more mistakes, with 35 unforced errors. Rybakina was also better on return, winning 39 percent of return points, far more than Sabalenka, who won 29 percent return points.

The title win was even more special for Rybakina as she picked an injury ahead of the US Open and was even struggling to walk. At that point, winning the US Open seemed out of her reach, but she managed the injury well and played brilliantly to win her third Grand Slam.