Rybankina wins US Open women’s title Saturday
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NEW YORK -- Elena Rybakina was going to see her name on top of the women’s tennis rankings today no matter what happened in the U.S. Open final.
Still, it wouldn’t have felt quite the same to pass Aryna Sabalenka and become No. 1 in a tournament where Sabalenka then beat Rybakina to defend her title. It would not only have been confusing to casual fans, but a letdown to the player.
Nothing to worry about there. Rybakina was too good for Sabalenka and anyone else in the sport right now, so her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory Saturday triggered a dual celebration.
“I feel that it’s going to be amazing to wake up knowing that you achieved such big things,” Rybakina said.
There could be more to come. The 27-year-old who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan is on top of her game, with two Grand Slam titles in 2026. She beat Sabalenka in both finals, and even the former No. 1 concedes it would be tough to get back to the top if Rybakina stays at the level she displayed in Flushing Meadows.
“She continues to play like that, then yeah, I’m in trouble,” Sabalenka said.
The 28-year-old from Belarus had won the previous two U.S. Open titles, appeared in three straight finals and reached at least the semifinals every year since 2021. Rybakina, meanwhile, had never even gotten past the fourth round before this year.
“For some reason, New York wasn’t my best place for tennis for the past years,” Rybakina said, “but definitely now it changed.”
So much has at the top of women’s tennis.
It began toward the end of 2025, when Rybakina beat Sabalenka for the title at the season-ending WTA Finals. Then it was the same result at the Australian Open final, and Rybakina has gone on to match Sabalenka and French Open winner Mirra Andreeva with a tour-high three titles. Her 49 victories are one behind No. 3 Jessica Pegula for tops this year.
“I always believed that it’s possible,” Rybakina said. “We’ve been having great results. Of course, not every year is the same. I won Wimbledon in 2022. Then I wasn’t winning the Slams, but I played the final of the Australian Open the next year. I think we were always there.”
She now needs only the French Open title to complete the career Grand Slam.
Elena Rybakina serves the ball to Aryna Sabalenka during the women’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Saturday in New York. (AP photo)