Elena Rybakina Beats Sabalenka to Win US Open Title, Crowned New World No. 1
Elena Rybakina has achieved a truly amazing feat in women’s tennis by defeating Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, in the US Open 2026 finals and taking the mantle of the world No. 1.
The Kazakh tennis star beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the thrilling three-set match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match saw Rybakina win the US Open trophy and her third Grand Slam title overall. The victory also confirmed Rybakina as the top-ranked player of WTA for the very first time.
The amazing achievement marks the end of an amazing hard court season for Rybakina after she had already beaten Sabalenka in the Australian Open finals earlier in 2026.
Elena Rybakina Defeats Aryna Sabalenka in Three Sets
The match started off with Rybakina going straight at Sabalenka with aggressive tactics, despite struggling to land her usual solid first serves in the beginning. She managed to land just 27% of her first serves in the first set, yet she made up for it with solid return play, excellent baseline play and dominating backhand game.
Rybakina won the first set 6-4, but Sabalenka wasn’t ready to give away the title so easily. The Belarusian player fought back and managed to win the second set 7-5.
However, the third set was all Rybakina’s. She managed to find her rhythm and dominated in the set, winning the final 6-2.
A Historic World No. 1 Moment
With this US Open title, she also accomplished another historic feat as she becomes the first player from Kazakhstan to be ranked No. 1 in the women’s singles rankings of the WTA.
She was already holding this position prior to winning the final since being in the finals was enough to help her be ranked No. 1 in the women’s singles rankings.
Moreover, she took the spot away from Aryna Sabalenka who held it for 99 consecutive weeks.
Rybakina’s Third Grand Slam Title
This marks Rybakina’s third Grand Slam tournament win.
Rybakina won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2022. She subsequently won the Australian Open in 2026 by beating Sabalenka in the final. Winning the US Open means she has won two Grand Slams in one calendar year.
Rybakina needs just one more French Open victory to complete her career Grand Slam.
This adds yet another exciting twist to an already sensational year for the 27-year-old..
The Rybakina-Sabalenka Rivalry Is Becoming a Major Story
The US Open final marked the third time that Rybakina and Sabalenka have met in a Grand Slam final.
In 2026, Rybakina has now won against Sabalenka in both Grand Slam finals they have competed in – the first being the Australian Open and this time in the US Open.
What adds to their rivalry is the contrast between their temperaments on the court. While Rybakina is a player with a cool temperament and an impeccable serve, Sabalenka has a fiery personality with powerful shots.
It was at Flushing Meadows that Rybakina’s coolness in the deciding set made all the difference.
Sabalenka’s US Open Reign Ends
For Sabalenka, the defeat marked the end of her quest for a third consecutive US Open title.
Sabalenka had previously claimed the title in 2024 and 2025 and was the defending champion and top seed heading into the final match of this year. The 2026 season thus came close but failed to see Sabalenka claim her third consecutive US Open title.
According to Reuters, the loss also saw Sabalenka end her impressive winning streak of 20 matches at Flushing Meadows.
In spite of this loss, however, Sabalenka was still able to reach the US Open final for another year and is one of the top players in women’s tennis.
Rybakina Overcame Injury Concerns
Rybakina’s triumph stands out as it was not clear until before the tournament whether Rybakina would be able to compete in the competition.
The tennis player suffered from Achilles problems which kept her out of play before the US Open tournament. Once the championship started, however, she steadily grew into the game thanks to an unfriendly draw.
In order to win the title, Rybakina had to defeat a number of Grand Slam and Olympic champions, thus proving once again the strength of her character.
Instead of being swayed by her top ranking and problems with health, Rybakina managed to stay cool during the most crucial moments of her career.
A Remarkable Hard-Court Season
The year 2026 for Rybakina has definitely made her one of the most successful players on hard courts in women’s tennis.
Not only is she the holder of the Australian Open and the US Open, but she also has won the WTA Finals, thus making her the holder of three most important hard-court titles.
Her skill of combining her first serve with aggressive returns and solid baseline play makes her especially dangerous on faster courts.
This success at the US Open shows that she is not a one-tournament wonder.
What Comes Next for Elena Rybakina?
While the immediate impact of Rybakina’s success is obvious: she leaves New York as the world No. 1 player and the biggest star in women’s tennis.
However, the main question is whether the Kazakh player can keep this form all year round and eventually win the career Grand Slam.
Given that she has already won Wimbledon, there is only one tournament, which is Roland Garros, that she needs to win.
Now, being 27, she has a chance to build a legacy out of a brilliant 2026 season.
Conclusion
Thus, Elena Rybakina’s US Open 2026 success was not just yet another Grand Slam win.
She beat the defending champion, successfully coped with the second set comeback, played under pressure in a deciding set and achieved the No. 1 ranking as well.
Thus, a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Aryna Sabalenka made Rybakina a winner of the US Open, the third Grand Slam champion and the first ever world No. 1 player from Kazakhstan.
Elena Rybakina not only beat Aryna Sabalenka in New York but also won the US Open title, took down the No. 1 rank and declared herself the new ruler of women’s tennis.
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