Rybakina beats Sabalenka in US Open final, becomes new world No. 1
Elena Rybakina won the US Open women's singles title in New York, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final and rising to become the new WTA world No. 1.
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina claimed the US Open women's singles title after defeating Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka in the final in New York. The match ended 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in Rybakina's favor.
The victory carried extra significance beyond the Grand Slam trophy itself, as the result also made Rybakina the new world No. 1. Her composed and steady style of play proved decisive, repeatedly frustrating Sabalenka throughout the contest.
Sabalenka, who had entered the final among the tournament favorites, struggled to handle the pressure applied by her opponent and made a number of errors that allowed Rybakina to dictate play across all three sets. The second set proved especially pivotal, with Rybakina holding firm in a tight battle to close it out 7-5.
In the third set, Rybakina pulled away decisively, closing out the match 6-2 to confirm her dominance in the final. The win stands as one of the most significant achievements of Rybakina's career, underscoring her consistency at the sport's highest level.
With the title, Rybakina joins the select group of players to have both won a Grand Slam and reached the world No. 1 ranking. Sabalenka, meanwhile, must settle for runner-up despite a strong run through the tournament.
