Elena Rybakina ended Aryna Sabalenka’s reign at Flushing Meadows with a commanding three-set victory to capture her maiden US Open women’s singles title and underline her ascent to the top of world tennis. The 27-year-old Kazakh defeated the two-time defending champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, claiming her third Grand Slam title and second major of a remarkable 2026 season.
Rybakina, who had already guaranteed herself the world No 1 ranking by reaching the semi-finals in New York, will officially replace Sabalenka at the top when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday. She will become the first player representing Kazakhstan to hold the women’s world No 1 ranking.
The victory also ended Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive US Open title and brought her long spell at the summit of the rankings to a close.
Rybakina takes early control
The final brought together the top two seeds and two of the most powerful players in the women’s game, with Rybakina quickly demonstrating the composure that has become a hallmark of her tennis.
She secured the decisive break in the opening set and held firm behind her serve to take it 6-4. Sabalenka, however, refused to surrender her title easily.
The Belarusian increased the pressure in the second set and eventually found the breakthrough late in the set. She took it 7-5 to force a decider and appeared to have shifted the momentum of the contest.
Rybakina responded emphatically. Rather than allowing the loss of the second set to unsettle her, she raised her level in the decider, applying relentless pressure to Sabalenka’s serve and taking control from the baseline.
Decider turns one-sided
Rybakina raced ahead in the third set as errors began to creep into Sabalenka’s game. The Kazakh remained composed while the defending champion became increasingly frustrated, and there was no way back once Rybakina established a commanding advantage.
She closed out the deciding set 6-2 to complete the victory and bring Sabalenka’s run of dominance at Flushing Meadows to an end.
The result capped a breakthrough fortnight in New York for Rybakina, whose previous best US Open performance had been a fourth-round appearance in 2025. She arrived at this year’s tournament with an ankle problem that had cast doubt over her participation, but steadily gathered momentum. Rybakina defeated former world No 1 Naomi Osaka in straight sets in the fourth round before recovering from a set down to beat Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals.
That victory over Zheng guaranteed her the No 1 ranking. She then fought back from a set down against home favourite Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first US Open final.
Third Grand Slam crown
The New York title adds to Rybakina’s Wimbledon triumph in 2022 and her Australian Open victory earlier this year. Sabalenka was also her opponent in the Melbourne final, with Rybakina prevailing in three sets.
By adding the US Open to her Australian Open crown, Rybakina has now captured both hard-court Grand Slams in the same season.
Her victory also denied Sabalenka a fifth Grand Slam singles title. The Belarusian had reached her fourth consecutive US Open final and was attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three successive titles in New York.
Instead, Rybakina leaves Flushing Meadows with both the trophy and the status of the sport’s new No 1, completing one of the defining tournaments of her career.