Elena Rybakina bests defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first U.S. Open
Summary
Elena Rybakina won her first U.S. Open tennis title by beating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match. Rybakina will become the new No. 1 player in women's tennis, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week run at the top.Key Facts
- Rybakina beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the 2026 U.S. Open final.
- This is Rybakina’s third Grand Slam title and second in 2026, both victories over Sabalenka on hard courts.
- Sabalenka had won the U.S. Open the last two years and held No. 1 for 99 weeks.
- Rybakina earned $5.5 million, the biggest Grand Slam prize ever, while Sabalenka earned $2.8 million.
- Rybakina will replace Sabalenka as the No. 1 ranked female tennis player starting next week.
- Rybakina was born in Russia but plays for Kazakhstan and won Wimbledon in 2022.
- Sabalenka was aiming to win three U.S. Open titles in a row, a feat last done by Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014.
- The final was only the third U.S. Open women’s final since 2000 featuring the No. 1 vs. No. 2 players.
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