Elena Rybakina Claims First US Open Title Against Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina walked into New York chasing a milestone. She left it with the trophy that had eluded her, and with the world No. 1 flat on the canvas.
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Kazakh star claimed her first US Open title, outlasting top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set final, 6:4, 5:7, 6:2.
For Sabalenka, this was supposed to be a statement of dominance. For Rybakina, it became a declaration of intent.
Rybakina strikes first
From the start, Rybakina’s game carried a sharper edge. She took the ball early, pinned Sabalenka back, and struck cleanly through the New York air. The opening set turned into a controlled assault: heavy first serves, flat, piercing groundstrokes, and just enough composure in the longer rallies.
The scoreboard told the story. Rybakina seized the first set 6:4, landing the first major blow of the afternoon and silencing a crowd that had grown used to Sabalenka bullying opponents on this court.
Sabalenka, though, is not built to retreat.
Champion’s response
The Belarusian fought her way into the match in the second set, leaning on the power that made her last year’s champion. Her serve found more venom, her returns bit deeper, and the points turned more physical. The errors that had crept in early began to fade as she forced Rybakina into tighter corners and riskier shots.
The pressure finally told.
Serving under the weight of Sabalenka’s resurgence, Rybakina saw the set slip away. Sabalenka broke at the key moment and closed out the second set 7:5, dragging the final level and swinging the momentum back to the reigning champion.
One set all. A major title on the line. The night in New York demanded a decider.
Decider with a ruthless edge
If Sabalenka expected Rybakina to blink, the response was brutal.
Rybakina reset and raised her level again in the third set. Her serve tightened, her baseline game steadied, and her shot selection grew colder, more calculated. Sabalenka, forced to chase, began to leak errors under the strain of Rybakina’s relentless depth.
The Kazakh broke early and never loosened her grip. She dictated rallies, stepped inside the court, and refused to let Sabalenka settle. The defending champion managed only two games in the final set as Rybakina powered through 6:2, closing the match with the authority of a player ready to own the stage.
A new champion in New York
The final scoreline – 6:4, 5:7, 6:2 – underlined the balance of power: two sets to one, and a first US Open title for Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka arrived as the top seed and the woman to beat, the reigning champion with the target on her back. She leaves having been pushed aside by a rival who matched her power and outlasted her in the decisive moments.
Rybakina, now a US Open champion, has planted her flag on one of the sport’s biggest stages. The question for the rest of the field is simple: how many more of these nights in New York will belong to her?
