Rybakina Wins US Open 2026, Ends Sabalenka’s Three-Peat Dream, Claims World No. 1 Spot
Elena Rybakina has won the 2026 US Open, defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the women’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Kazakhstan star secured her third Grand Slam title and completed a remarkable turnaround after arriving in New York with doubts over her fitness following a foot injury suffered at the Cincinnati Open.
Rybakina revealed she could barely walk without pain in the days before the tournament and underwent an MRI after arriving in New York.
Despite limited on-court preparation, she produced a dominant run, defeating Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff en route to the final.
Against Sabalenka, Rybakina held her nerve to win a fiercely contested three-set battle lasting two hours and 21 minutes.
She took the opening set 6-4 before Sabalenka fought back to level the contest. Rybakina, however, regained control in the deciding set, breaking for a 2-1 lead and using her powerful returning and baseline game to put the defending champion under sustained pressure.
Rybakina briefly double-faulted on her first championship point but responded with an ace to seal the biggest title of her career.
The victory also makes Rybakina the new WTA world No. 1, replacing Sabalenka at the top of the rankings. She becomes the 30th different woman to reach the summit.
For Sabalenka, the defeat ended her bid to become only the third woman in the Open Era, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to win the US Open three consecutive times.
The Belarusian’s frustration was evident throughout the match. She finished with 35 unforced errors and smashed her racket after the defeat, having earlier been warned for hitting a ball into the stands.
“It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for a three-peat,” Sabalenka said.
The defeat also leaves Sabalenka without a Grand Slam title in 2026, while Rybakina has now won both hard-court majors this year following her Australian Open triumph.
Results at a Glance
- Final: Elena Rybakina def. Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
- Duration: 2 hours, 21 minutes
- Rybakina: Third Grand Slam title
- Rybakina: New world No. 1
- Sabalenka: Three-peat denied
- Sabalenka: 35 unforced errors
