Elena Rybakina has strengthened her position at the top of women’s tennis after defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2026 US Open women’s singles title.
Rybakina defeated Sabalenka 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 in the final to claim her third Grand Slam title. The victory also confirmed her as the new world No. 1, replacing Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings.
The Kazakh player had already enjoyed a remarkable season before arriving in New York. She won the Australian Open earlier this year, also defeating Sabalenka in the final. Her US Open victory means she has now won both hard-court Grand Slam tournaments in the same season. (
The final was a closely fought contest at first. Rybakina took the opening set 6–4, but Sabalenka responded by winning the second set 7–5 to force a decider. Rybakina then produced a strong third set, winning 6–2 to secure the championship.
The result was particularly significant because Sabalenka had won the US Open in 2024 and 2025 and was attempting to become champion for a third consecutive year. Instead, Rybakina ended her reign and claimed her first US Open crown.
Rybakina’s rise to No. 1 represents another major milestone in her career. She becomes the first Kazakhstani player to reach the top position in the women’s rankings. She now needs only the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.
The victory also adds another chapter to the growing rivalry between Rybakina and Sabalenka. The pair have now faced each other numerous times, including major finals, with both players establishing themselves among the leading stars of women’s tennis.
For Sabalenka, the defeat ends a difficult US Open campaign after she had entered the tournament as the defending champion. She will now lose the No. 1 ranking following Rybakina’s victory.
Rybakina’s performance in New York confirms that she is one of the dominant forces in women’s tennis and gives her a strong platform heading into the final part of the 2026 season.
