In a dramatic showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, Elena Rybakina clinched her first-ever US Open title, overcoming top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match that concluded 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory marks a significant milestone for the 27-year-old, as the win allows her to overtake Sabalenka for the top spot in the world rankings. The triumph also nets Rybakina a record-breaking $5.5 million in prize money, the largest payout in the history of Grand Slam tennis.
The match began with Rybakina asserting dominance early, dispatching the first set in just 44 minutes. Despite a surprisingly low 27% first-serve percentage, she managed to hold her own, losing only eight points on her serve throughout the set and successfully avoiding any break points. Conversely, the Belarusian top seed struggled with her composure, openly expressing frustration to her coaching box as she found herself trailing.
Sabalenka, a two-time consecutive champion at Flushing Meadows, demonstrated her hallmark resilience in the second set. After falling behind, she regrouped and showed greater command of the court. With the score at 5-4, she navigated two crucial moments where Rybakina threatened to break, eventually closing out the set 7-5 to extend the match into a decisive third set. This defeat snaps Sabalenka’s impressive 19-match winning streak at the tournament, effectively ending her bid to become the third woman in the open era to secure three consecutive US Open titles.
Momentum shifted decisively in the final set as Rybakina surged to a 5-2 double-break lead. She sealed the championship with an ace, prompting an emotional reaction from both players; Sabalenka threw her racket in frustration before offering a brief embrace at the net, later smashing the same racket on the bench. Rybakina described the experience as overwhelming, admitting that she struggled to find words to describe the victory and noting that she had been managing a minor injury throughout the event.
Expressing her deep appreciation for the New York crowd, Rybakina reflected on her past difficulties at the venue. Having competed there for a decade without success, she noted that everything finally aligned for her this year. She praised Sabalenka as a great champion, acknowledging how difficult it was to compete against her high-intensity playstyle. This win represents Rybakina’s third career Grand Slam title, following her success at the Australian Open earlier this season.
For Sabalenka, the loss was clearly difficult, but she remained gracious during her post-match comments to ESPN. Congratulating her opponent on an incredible season, she wished Rybakina well for the remainder of the year. Rybakina, who now ties Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva with a league-leading three titles this season, concluded by expressing her growing affinity for the New York atmosphere, capping off an unforgettable campaign. The report also notes that making her feelings known about the struggles as she mouthed her displeasure to herself and her coaching box, the Belarusian Sabalenka looked at odds with herself for a good portion of the opening set. The report also notes that and in an even more shocking outcome, Rybakina, the Russian-born Kazakhstani, won the set while only completing only 27% of her first serves in. The report also notes that she only lost eight of the 30 points off her serve and never faced a break point, despite her struggles. The report also notes that while up 5-4, had the chance to put the set away twice but both times, Rybakina drew right back to tie it up at 5-5, the 28-year-old. The report also notes that “I didn’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament,” Rybakina said. The report also notes that “I’ve been dealing with a little injury but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”.
