Elena Rybakina has already hurt Aryna Sabalenková before. Can he ruin the party again?

ByTech Word News

Elena Rybakina has caused Aryna Sabalenkova a lot of pain over the past year. Now he has the chance to deliver his biggest blow yet.

The two will meet in the women’s singles final at the US Open on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Rybakina will be chasing her first title at Flushing Meadows and Sabalenka is eyeing a historic treble.

There is much more at stake than just a Grand Slam trophy. Rybakina has already ended Sabalenkova’s long reign at the top of the WTA rankings and now has the opportunity to deny her one of the most significant achievements in modern tennis.

The Kazakh, who defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals, will also come with memories of several important battles against the Sabalenka that shaped their rivalry.

IT STARTED IN RIYADH

One of the most significant wins came at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

In the final, Rybakina defeated the then world number one Sabalenkova 6-3, 7-6(0), which brought an exceptional performance. She fired 13 aces and won 56.2 percent of the total points, compared to Sabalenkova’s 43.8 percent.

Rybakin’s ability to prevent Sabalenka from exerting constant pressure on her serve proved decisive. She saved all five break points she faced and converted one of her six opportunities on Sabalenkova’s serve.

This win gave Rybakin an important psychological advantage heading into the next Grand Slam meeting.

RYBAKINA OPENLY GETTING REVENGE ON AUSTRALIA

Rybakina and Sabalenka met in the 2026 Australian Open final, almost exactly three years after their memorable championship match in 2023. Sabalenka won the 2023 final to claim her first Grand Slam title, defeating Rybakina 4–6, 6–3, 6–4.

Three years later, Rybakina reversed the result.

She defeated Sabalenkova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win her second Grand Slam title and complete a remarkable turnaround in their Australian Open rivalry.

The similarity of the two finals made the result even more striking. Both went to three sets, but this time Rybakina held her nerve as the match reached the deciding stage.

It was also a crucial win against a player who entered the final as the world No. 1 and was trying to win her third Australian Open title.

Sabalenka got a little revenge later in the season. At Indian Wells, she defeated Rybakina in another dramatic final, winning the deciding tie-break set 8–6 after saving a match point.

RYBAKINA KNOCKS SABALENKA NO. 1 IN THE RANKINGS

In New York, the stakes are even higher, as Rybakina has already taken something else from Sabalenka: world number one.

Rybakina secured first place by defeating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Her 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory ensured she would become the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top spot when the rankings are updated after the tournament.

More importantly, it ended Sabalenka’s 107-week reign at the top. Rybakina is also the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach No. 1 in both men’s and women’s tennis.

This means that the final will not decide who becomes world number one. Rybakina has already secured this milestone.

Her attention now shifts to the biggest prize of all.

A win would see Rybakina defeat Sabalenkova in a Grand Slam final for the second time this year and add a first US Open crown to her Australian Open title.

RYBAKINA SEEKS TO RUIN SABALENCE’S THREE-PEAT DREAM

However, Sabalenka has plenty of reasons to believe she can stop Rybakina.

The Belarusian has been virtually unbeaten in the past two years since losing to Gauff in the 2023 final at Flushing Meadows. Her 7–5, 6–2 semifinal victory over Jessica Pegula put her in her fourth consecutive US Open final.

A win on Saturday would make Sabalenka the first woman since Serena, who won between 2012 and 2014, to complete the US Open three-peat.

Her progress to the finals is also a dramatic response to a difficult stretch of the season.

Sabalenkova’s last titles came during the Sunshine Double in March. She won Indian Wells and then beat Gauff 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 in the final in Miami to become the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double.

Sabalenko did not reach the next final between her triumph in the Sunshine Double and the US Open. Her campaign in New York was therefore a major revival, culminating in a fourth straight final.

Now comes the ultimate test.

The head-to-head is 10-7 in Sabalenkova’s favour, while their Grand Slam rivalry has already produced memorable finals.

For Rybakina, Saturday is a chance to turn the year of victory over Sabalenko into a defining statement. For Sabalenka, it’s an opportunity to protect her Flushing Meadows kingdom and prevent her biggest rival from completing another painful chapter.

Either way, their latest meeting promises to be another heavyweight battle in one of the most compelling rivalries in women’s tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Head-to-Head

Overall

Matches – 17, Aryna Sabalenka – 10, Elena Rybakina – 7

At the Grand Slams

Matches – 3, Aryna Sabalenka – 2, Elena Rybakina – 1

Road to the finals

Aryna Sabalenka

  • Round 1: Defeated Camila Osorio 6:2, 6:4
  • 2nd round: Defeated Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1
  • 3rd round: Defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6:3, 6:4
  • Round 4: Beat Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3
  • Quarterfinals: beat Linda Nosková 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7)
  • Semifinals: Defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2

Elena Rybakina

  • Round 1: Defeated Theo Frodin 6-3, 6-2.
  • Round 2: Defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4.
  • 3rd round: Defeated Julia Starodubtseva 7:6(6), 6:3
  • Round 4: Defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4
  • Quarterfinals: Defeated Qinwen Zheng 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
  • Semifinals: beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

When to watch US Open 2026 women’s singles final?

The US Open 2026 women’s singles final between Aryna Sabalenkova and Elena Rybakina won’t start until 16:00 local time (September 12), 01:30 IST (September 13).

Where to watch US Open 2026 semi-finals?

Star Sports Network has the telecast rights for US Open Women’s Singles Final 2026. Live streaming of the matches will be available on JioHotstar.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

12 Sep 2026 14:31 IST