Rybakina Claims Third Grand Slam Title, Set to Become New World No. 1

Rybakina wins US Open, ends Sabalenka's reign at No. 1

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the world's second-ranked player, defeated Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka 6:4, 5:7, 6:2 in the US Open final, a result that will strip Sabalenka of her No. 1 ranking on Monday.

Despite being ranked lower, Sabalenka, 28, entered the final as a slight favorite, with bookmakers offering odds of 1.64 on her win.

Rybakina held serve throughout the first set to close it out 6:4. In the second set she saved a 15-40 deficit in the tenth game but ultimately lost her serve and the set 5:7. In the decider, Rybakina pulled away decisively to win 6:2, with the match lasting two hours and 21 minutes.

The champion outperformed her opponent in nearly every statistical category, including first- and second-serve points won, total points won (103-90), and converted break points (3 of 12 versus 1 of 3). The pair's head-to-head record now stands at 9-11 in Sabalenka's favor.

Sabalenka had to retire early from her Cincinnati quarterfinal in August due to a heel/Achilles injury and played this tournament with strapping on the affected area.

This was Rybakina's ninth consecutive appearance at the US Open; her previous best result was a fourth-round finish in 2025. For the win, she earns 2,000 ranking points and $5.5 million, the largest prize ever awarded at a tennis event.

With the victory, 27-year-old Rybakina becomes a three-time Grand Slam champion, having previously won Wimbledon (2022) and the Australian Open (2026). On Monday she will become the 30th player in WTA history to reach the world No. 1 ranking.

Since autumn last year, Rybakina's coaching team has included Stanislav Chmarski of Ukraine, long the coach of Latvia's top-ranked tennis player, who now serves as assistant to her head coach. Since he joined, Rybakina's results have significantly improved, including her first WTA Finals title and two Grand Slam titles.