Elena Rybakina crushes Aryna Sabalenkova’s three-peat dream to claim her first US Open crown

Elena Rybakina dethroned Aryna Sabalenkova to become the new US Open champion, crushing the Belarusian’s bid for a historic treble at Flushing Meadows. Rybakina produced a composed show in front of a packed house on Saturday to beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 21 minutes.

Rybakina, the ace queen, fittingly sealed her triumph with her signature weapon. She fired an ace on the championship point before erupting in celebration to complete a stunning victory to claim her first US Open crown.

The scenes on the court could not have been more contrasting. While Rybakina soaked up the glory of her momentous triumph, Sabalenka had to deal with heartbreak and finally vented her frustration by destroying her racket.

US Open 2026 Women’s Singles Semifinals Highlights

Sabalenkova was chasing history, looking to become just the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open three years in a row. But Rybakina again proved to be her enemy.

The Kazakh defeated Sabalenkova last year at the WTA Finals and this year at the Australian Open, before taking the world number one from her. Now she denied Sabalenkova a historic three-peat tournament and claimed her third Grand Slam title.

Rybakina has now won two Grand Slam titles in 2026 and three of the four majors in her career, with only Roland Garros missing from her collection.

RYBAKINA DICTATES THE CONDITIONS IN THE OPENING SET

Rybakina won the US Open for the first time in her career. Courtesy: Reuters

Rybakina dictated the terms for most of the opening set, using her strong serve and clean ball hitting to keep Sabalenkova under constant pressure in the US Open final.

The Kazakh initially had to withstand the explosive start of Sabalenkova, Belarus held serve after a pulsating opening game. But Rybakina quickly settled into her rhythm. In her next service game, she held at love, firing off four points in a row and making it difficult for Sabalenka to establish herself from the baseline.

The break occurred at 2:2. Rybakina earned three break points earlier in the set and this time she made the pressure count. Sabalenkova struggled to find her range as Rybakina kept upping the intensity and a costly double fault eventually gave the Kazakh a break for a 3-2 lead.

Rybakina then emphatically consolidated his lead. She raced to 40-0 before producing another ace, with Sabalenkova’s error completing a commanding hold at 4-2.

The Kazakh continued to dictate with her aggressive tennis from the first stroke, forcing Sabalenko into errors and denying the defending champion the chance to establish any lasting momentum. Although Sabalenkova fought her way to a set point in the eighth game, Rybakina remained level.

At 5-4, Rybakina held her nerve as Sabalenkova saved one set point. Two crucial backhand winners kept the pressure going before another backhand error from Sabalenkova sealed the set for good.

After 44 minutes, Rybakina dominated the opening set 6-4, consistently controlling the tempo and forcing Sabalenko to play on her terms.

SABALENKA KICKS DEEP TO FORCE A DECISION

Sabalenkova rebounded in the second set of the final. Courtesy: Reuters

Sabalenkova showed tremendous tenacity to fight her way back into the US Open final, overturning Rybakin’s early dominance to take the second set 7-5 to force a decider.

Belarus was under immediate pressure after dropping the opening set. At the beginning of the second, she was able to hold serve, but Rybakina continued to attack aggressively and twice threatened to break.

Sabalenka dug deep, saving two key break points before sealing the game with a service winner. The break proved vital as she gradually began to find more authority on her returns and cut short rallies with her powerful forehand.

At 3-3, Sabalenkova again had to withstand the pressure before finally finding a dominant service game. At love at 4-3, she opened with a forehand winner and took advantage of three consecutive Rybakin errors.

The dynamic began to change. At 4-4, Sabalenka sensed an opening, but Rybakina held firm. Serving at 4-5, the Kazakh faced the biggest test of the set, yet she saved two break points with an ace and a decisive backhand winner to make it 5-5.

Sabalenka refused to miss the opportunity. She held for 6-5 after surviving another tight game, producing a clutch ace and a winning forehand volley.

Rybakina, serving to stay in the set, finally cracked. An expensive double fault and a forehand error gave Sabalenkova the needed introduction. Rybakina fought back with a backhand winner, but Sabalenkova held her nerve to win the set 7:5 and send the final to a decider.

RYBAKINA DOMINATES SABALENCE

Elena Rybakina hammered Sabalenkova in the deciding set. Courtesy: Reuters

The deciding set started with another huge test for Sabalenkova. She survived a marathon opening game on serve, saving several break points, but Rybakina immediately turned up the pressure again.

The Kazakh held at love with two aces before finally finding a break at 2-1. Once Rybakina had the advantage, she never looked back. She consolidated the break with a backhand volley winner and an ace, so Sabalenkova had a hard time looking for answers.

Sabalenka briefly stemmed the tide by holding at 2-3, but Rybakina remained firmly in command. She raced through the next service game to move 4-2 ahead, Sabalenka’s errors adding to her growing frustration.

The decisive blow came at 4:2. Sabalenka appeared to be in control at 30-0 but Rybakina defended brilliantly. A double fault and a backhand error opened the door and the Kazakh eventually converted her second break point with a superb forehand volley winner.

At 5:2, the championship was within reach. Rybakina stayed level despite two double faults, opening with an ace and then following with a forehand winner. Another double fault briefly gave Sabalenkova hope, but Rybakina responded with another forehand winner to earn match point.

Then came the perfect ending.

Rybakina fired an ace to seal the biggest win of her career. She dropped her racket, raised her arms and celebrated a landmark triumph as Sabalenka’s title defense came to an end.

For Sabalenka, the defeat meant the end of 2026 without a Grand Slam title. It marked another major milestone in a remarkable season for Rybakina and further underlined her growing dominance at the very pinnacle of the sport.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

13 Sep 2026 04:46 IST