Elena Rybakina wins US Open and claims World No. 1 Ranking

Elena Rybakina has completed a remarkable US Open campaign by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final to win her first Grand Slam title in New York and move to the top of the women's game.

The Kazakhstani produced a composed performance under the pressure of an Arthur Ashe Stadium final, recovering from Sabalenka's second-set comeback to dominate the deciding set and secure the biggest title of her career.

The victory gives Rybakina her third Grand Slam championship, adding the US Open to her Wimbledon triumph in 2022 and Australian Open title earlier in 2026. Only the French Open now stands between her and a career Grand Slam.

It also completes a remarkable double over Sabalenka at this year's tournament. Rybakina had already taken the WTA No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka during the tournament. She then went one step further by defeating the former No. 1 in the championship match.

Rybakina controls the opening set

Rybakina made the better start and established control with her powerful serve, clean groundstrokes and particularly effective second serve. Sabalenka created pressure early, but Rybakina repeatedly found answers. She broke for 3-2 after Sabalenka double-faulted and then protected the advantage with increasingly confident serving.

The first set ultimately went to Rybakina 6-4.

Her serving numbers were particularly notable. She landed only eight of 30 first serves in the set but won 15 of 22 points behind her second serve, preventing Sabalenka from exploiting the weakness.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, struggled to find the consistency that had carried her through the earlier rounds.

Sabalenka fights back

The second set became a much tighter contest. Sabalenka improved on serve and began putting greater pressure on Rybakina's groundstrokes. Rybakina continued to hold comfortably for much of the set, but Sabalenka finally earned her first break points of the match when Rybakina served at 5-5.

Rybakina saved the immediate danger, but Sabalenka survived her own difficult service game to move ahead 6-5.

The turning point came in the following game.

Sabalenka produced a huge forehand return off Rybakina's second serve to earn the decisive break and take the set 7-5, forcing a deciding set.

The comeback appeared to have shifted the momentum.

It did not last.

Rybakina takes control of the decider

The opening game of the third set lasted 12 points, with Sabalenka eventually holding after saving a break point. Rybakina responded immediately with a love hold and began to regain control.

At 1-1, she forced two break points through relentless defence and pressure from the baseline. Sabalenka saved the first but sent a forehand long on the second, handing Rybakina the break.

The Kazakhstani consolidated for 3-1 and never surrendered the advantage. Sabalenka continued to fight, but her frustration became increasingly visible. She smashed rackets during the set as Rybakina's consistency forced her into more errors.

Rybakina broke again for 5-2 to put herself within a game of the championship. She briefly wobbled when serving for the title, double-faulting, but recovered to create two championship points.

The second was all she needed.

Rybakina fired a 110 mph ace to close out the match and complete a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory. She dropped to the court in celebration as Sabalenka sat visibly dejected on the other side of the net.

A New No. 1 in Women's Tennis

The victory marks the beginning of a new chapter for Rybakina. She leaves New York as the US Open champion and the new world No. 1, replacing Sabalenka at the top of the rankings.

For Sabalenka, the defeat ends her bid for a third consecutive US Open championship. She had arrived in New York seeking to extend her dominance at the tournament, but instead leaves with Rybakina having taken both the title and the No. 1 ranking from her.

For Rybakina, meanwhile, New York has delivered two of the biggest achievements of her career in the space of a single tournament.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2026 Australian Open winner is now a US Open champion too.

And with only Roland Garros missing from her collection, the 27-year-old is now three-quarters of the way to completing a career Grand Slam.

SportsLigue