Elena Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka's bid for third straight US Open title
Elena Rybakina Clinches U.S. Open Women’s Title, Advances to Career Grand Slam
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan secured her first U.S. Open crown on Saturday, defeating Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in a three‑set final at Flushing Meadows. The 27‑year‑old, who had already captured the Australian Open earlier in the year, lifted the trophy after a score of 6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑2, and moved one step closer to completing a career Grand Slam.
Rybakina’s win not only gave her a second major title but also confirmed that she would become the world No. 1 next week, a ranking she was already poised to inherit from Sabalenka. “It’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said after the match. “I don’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing with a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”
The match was a reprise of the Australian Open final, where Rybakina had bested Sabalenka on hard court in Melbourne earlier in the season. In the U.S. Open final, Sabalenka entered with a 19‑match winning streak at the tournament, having not lost since her loss to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final. She was chasing a historic third consecutive title, the first player to achieve that feat since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014.
“I really felt like home here and cannot wait to come back next year,” Sabalenka told reporters after the loss. “I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year.” The Belarusian had won both of their recent encounters earlier in the year, on hard courts at Indian Wells and Miami, and leads the head‑to‑head 10‑8.
Rybakina’s victory marks the third U.S. Open women’s final since 2000 between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, and the first time the No. 2 seed has taken the title. The last two finals in that period saw Serena Williams as the top seed, beating her sister Venus in 2002 and world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
Born in Russia, Rybakina now represents Kazakhstan. She captured her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022, and a French Open win would complete a career Grand Slam. She showed a moment of frustration early in the third set after a backhand wide hit missed a break‑point, but the Kazakhstani quickly regained control and closed out the match.
The U.S. Open final also highlighted a notable rivalry: Sabalenka has won the two other meetings this season, but Rybakina’s recent victory narrows the gap. With the ranking change, Rybakina will replace Sabalenka as world No. 1 the week after the tournament concludes.
While the men’s side of the tournament will feature a final between Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev on Sunday, the women’s side already saw a historic moment with Rybakina’s triumph. Her success underscores the global nature of the sport, with a Russian‑born athlete representing Kazakhstan and defeating a top‑seeded Belarusian in a Grand Slam final.