en.malanginspirasi.com — In a thrilling clash of hard-court titans, Elena Rybakina delivered a masterclass in poise and power to capture her first US Open title, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory marks Rybakina’s third career Grand Slam title and second major of the 2026 season, following her triumph over Sabalenka at the Australian Open in January.
With this monumental win, the 27-year-old officially ascends to World No. 1 in the WTA rankings, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top of the women’s game.
Despite connecting on less than half of her signature first serves, Rybakina’s relentless baseline pressure and lethal return game put Sabalenka on the defensive throughout the two-hour, 21-minute battle.
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Rybakina struck first in the opening set, capitalizing on a costly double-fault from Sabalenka in the fifth game to secure the set’s lone break.
Sabalenka fought back with characteristic grit in the second set, elevating her intensity as the crowd cheered on the defending champion.
After missing two set-point opportunities at 5-4, Sabalenka finally broke Rybakina’s serve in the twelfth game to force a deciding third set.
However, Rybakina quickly reclaimed momentum in the decider.
Unshaken by the lost set, she dialed in her flat groundstrokes and won 16 of her final 19 service points, breaking Sabalenka twice before closing out the championship with her twelfth ace of the afternoon.
During the trophy ceremony, an emotional Rybakina admitted that entering the tournament, she had low expectations due to a recent foot injury, making the victory feel even more surreal.
She also shared warm words for her rival, noting that playing against Sabalenka always pushes her to her absolute limits.
For Sabalenka, the defeat brought an impressive 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows to an end.
Expressing her gratitude to the New York fans, Sabalenka promised to return stronger next year to reclaim the title.
Having already conquered Wimbledon in 2022 and both hard-court majors this season, Rybakina now stands just a French Open trophy away from completing the career Grand Slam.
Along with the coveted silver trophy, she takes home a record-setting $5.5 million champion’s prize, solidifying her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis today.
