Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina claims her first US Open crown, dethroning defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in New York.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 US Open women's singles final on Saturday, September 12, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, capturing her first US Open title and ending Sabalenka's bid for a third consecutive championship. The No. 2 seed's victory over the top-seeded Sabalenka also cemented her position as the new world No. 1, closing a dramatic fortnight in which she overtook Sabalenka's 99-week reign atop the rankings.
Path to the Final and Ranking Shift
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Rybakina's ascent to No. 1 was mathematically confirmed during the tournament, when her quarterfinal win over Zheng Qinwen, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, guaranteed she would replace Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings, according to BBC Sport. She then rallied from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal on September 10 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, reaching her first US Open final. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, advanced by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinal, extending her tournament winning streak to 20 matches and reaching a fourth consecutive US Open final, per BBC Sport and WTA Tennis.
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A Clash of Two Champions
USOpen.org previewed the final as a meeting between "two deserving champions," noting Sabalenka entered as the reigning No. 1 and two-time defending champion, while Rybakina arrived as the sport's rising No. 1. Reuters described Rybakina as being "on course for a third Grand Slam crown" heading into the title match. Ahead of the contest, Rybakina told Olympics.com she would "need all the energy I have" to overcome Sabalenka, underlining the physical demands of facing the two-time champion.
Outcome and Implications
Rybakina's win denied Sabalenka a rare Open-era three-peat in New York and confirmed the Kazakh player's hold on both the US Open title and the world No. 1 ranking. The result marks a significant shift in women's tennis, with major outlets including BBC Sport, ESPN and The Guardian framing the final as a turning point atop the sport, as Rybakina adds a Grand Slam title to her resume while Sabalenka's long dominance in New York comes to an end.
