Ruthless Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to capture first US Open crown

Elena Rybakina showcased an impressive performance to unseat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, securing a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory in the U.S. She secured her place in the final on Saturday, achieving a third Grand Slam title to complement her rise to world number one.

The Kazakh, born in Russia, maintained her cool demeanor on the grand stage, allowing her to break Sabalenka's impressive 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. This victory also prevented the Belarusian from achieving the remarkable feat of securing three consecutive titles in New York, a milestone previously reached by Serena Williams and Chris Evert.

An ankle injury had posed a challenge to Rybakina's campaign even before the tournament began, but the 27-year-old dismissed those worries to secure the U.S. Open title, complementing her Australian Open victory this year and her success at Wimbledon in 2022.

It's tough to find words ... I didn't expect anything like this result coming into the tournament," said Rybakina, who became only the third woman this century to claim both hardcourt majors in the same year after Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber.

I've been managing an injury recently. Everything seemed to come together perfectly for me. Aryna ... competing against you is quite a challenge. You push me to the limit. "I want to express my gratitude to the wonderful spectators for creating such a lovely atmosphere. My affection for New York continues to grow deeper.

Saturday's title showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium had all the elements of a classic battle between the top two in the rankings. While Sabalenka displayed late aggression, Rybakina remained composed and ultimately triumphed, securing the $5.5 million prize. "It's going to be a different experience waking up the next morning knowing you've won the U.S. I have reached the world number one ranking," stated Rybakina, who received her trophy from the five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.

"It's a relief, because you've done all the ​routines for the past two to three weeks. It requires considerable effort and can be quite nerve-wracking as well.

POWERFUL GROUNDSTROKES

Dressed in a yellow-and-black match kit reminiscent of a bee, Rybakina delivered some powerful groundstrokes but couldn't capitalize on the early pressure, as Sabalenka responded with strong serves to maintain her composure in their third Grand Slam final encounter.

The second seed struck first, taking a 3-2 lead after a double fault from Sabalenka, who quickly received a code violation for sending a ball soaring into the stands of the main showcourt in frustration. "It's really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of a Grand Slam and when you're trying to go for a 'three-peat,' so I wanted to let it go," Sabalenka remarked. "If I had kept it inside, I wouldn't be able to say a word.

Sabalenka's frustration grew more apparent with every missed shot and lost opportunity, sharply contrasting with the signature composure displayed on Rybakina's face as the Kazakh solidified her control over the opening set and secured it with a firm grasp.

A sudden decline in Rybakina's performance midway through the second set gave the 28-year-old Sabalenka a brief opportunity. She executed a delicate drop shot and a remarkable backhand crosscourt winner, ultimately leading to a deciding set.

Sabalenka unleashed a powerful roar following yet another backhand winner to secure a hold in a closely contested opening game of the third set.

LEAD WITH AUTHORITY

Rybakina's quality was evident as she wielded her red-and-blue-framed racket, taking a commanding 5-2 lead before securing a notable victory, leaving her Belarusian rival without any major silverware in 2026.

The usually composed Rybakina's celebration lacked the flair one might anticipate from a standard match win, as she quietly gathered her things at the bench while Sabalenka remained seated with her broken racket.

It's the last thing I want to do right now, give a speech. But I'll try my very best," said a teary Sabalenka, who lost to Rybakina in the Australian Open final this year. "I'm disappointed, but I want to congratulate Elena. I hope to improve my performance a little more, but I suppose there's always next year.

The action resumes on Sunday with another final, as Ben Shelton aims to conclude a 23-year American drought for a men's Grand Slam champion in his match against top seed Alexander Zverev.