Rybakina beats Sabalenka to win U.S. Open

Elena Rybakina took the U.S. Open trophy from Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday, days after securing the No. 1 ranking that had belonged to the Belarusian for 99 consecutive weeks.

Rybakina beat the top seed and two-time defending champion 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a hard-hitting final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning her first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam championship. The 27-year-old, who was born in Russia and represents Kazakhstan, had already guaranteed she would replace Sabalenka atop the rankings next week by reaching the semifinals.

“It’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said. “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.”

Rybakina earned $5.5 million, the largest prize in Grand Slam history, while Sabalenka took home $2.8 million. After a brief hug at the net, Sabalenka smashed her racket. She had been trying to become the first player since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014 to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles.

“I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today,” Sabalenka said. “Not good enough.”

The result ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open, where she had not lost since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final. It also gave Rybakina her second major title of the year, both against Sabalenka on hard courts, after she beat her for the Australian Open championship. Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, now needs only the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

The final was the third Grand Slam title match between the two players, and it was the third U.S. Open women’s final since 2000 to feature No. 1 against No. 2. Unlike the previous two, won by the top-ranked Serena Williams in 2002 and 2013, this one went to the challenger.

Rybakina did not dominate with her biggest weapon early. The WTA Tour leader in aces landed only 27% of her first serves in the opening set, according to The Guardian, and CBS Sports reported she put fewer than half of her first serves in overall. But she controlled much of the match with her return and baseline play, generating 12 break chances and converting three.

Sabalenka’s tension showed in the first set. She double-faulted to give Rybakina a 3-2 lead, then struck a ball into the crowd and received a warning from the chair umpire. Rybakina closed out the set 6-4.

Sabalenka responded in the second. Serving more steadily and pressuring Rybakina’s second serve, she earned two break points at 5-4 but could not convert. At 6-5, she got another chance and forced the deciding set with a powerful backhand return.

Rybakina quickly reset. Her serve sharpened in the third set, and she held comfortably while Sabalenka struggled to keep pace. The victory completed a demanding run for Rybakina, who had been dealing with an Achilles injury before the tournament, according to The Guardian, and had never previously advanced beyond the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.

“I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful — nothing close to that,” Rybakina said. “It’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.”

Sabalenka, who still leads their rivalry 10-8 after winning their previous two meetings this season at Indian Wells and Miami, praised the challenge Rybakina presents.

“Her serve is amazing, the way she’s able to step in and overpower you on court, and especially if it’s a U.S. Open court where it’s super fast, it’s definitely a huge advantage for her,” Sabalenka said. “A lot of things make her dangerous.”