Rybakina DETHRONES Sabalenka! Elena Wins US Open 2026 After Epic Final
Elena Rybakina is the 2026 US Open women's singles champion! The Kazakh star defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 in a dramatic three-set final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Rybakina made the perfect start by taking the opening set, but Sabalenka responded in the second to force a decider. When the pressure reached its highest point, however, Rybakina produced the stronger tennis and closed out the championship with a commanding 6–2 third set.
Rybakina Ends Sabalenka's US Open Reign
Sabalenka arrived in the final with a remarkable opportunity. The Belarusian was the two-time defending US Open champion and was bidding to become only the second woman in the Open Era to complete a successful three-peat at Flushing Meadows.
Instead, Rybakina became the player to stop her.
The No. 2 seed immediately showed why she had reached the championship match, playing aggressively from the baseline while using her powerful serve to keep Sabalenka from settling into a rhythm.
Rybakina eventually took the opening set 6–4 and moved within two sets of the biggest title of her career.
Sabalenka Fights Back in the Second
The defending champion was not finished.
Sabalenka raised her level in the second set and found a way to put Rybakina under greater pressure. The battle became increasingly intense as both players looked to gain control of the match.
Sabalenka ultimately won the set 7–5, sending the final into a deciding third set and keeping her bid for a third consecutive US Open title alive.
Rybakina Dominates the Deciding Set
The third set belonged to Rybakina.
Rather than allowing Sabalenka's comeback to overwhelm her, the Kazakh star regained control and began dictating the exchanges again.
Rybakina pulled away and eventually closed out the deciding set 6–2, completing a huge three-set victory and lifting the US Open trophy for the first time.
The victory adds another major championship to a remarkable 2026 season for Rybakina, who also won the Australian Open earlier this year.
US Open 2026 Women's Final Score
| Player | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka | 4 | 7 | 2 | Runner-up |
| Elena Rybakina | 6 | 5 | 6 | Champion |
Rybakina's Serve Makes the Difference
The numbers underline just how effectively Rybakina used her serve throughout the final.
She fired 12 aces, twice as many as Sabalenka's six, and won an impressive 85% of her first-serve points.
Rybakina also won 64% of her second-serve points and collected 41 receiving points. She finished the match with 103 total points won, compared with Sabalenka's 90.
Sabalenka converted one of her three break-point opportunities, while Rybakina converted three of 12.
US Open Final Match Statistics
| Statistic | Sabalenka | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 6 | 12 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 5 |
| First Serve % | 58% | 53% |
| Win % on First Serve | 69% | 85% |
| Win % on Second Serve | 54% | 64% |
| Break Points | 1/3 | 3/12 |
| Receiving Points Won | 25 | 41 |
| Total Points Won | 90 | 103 |
| Games Won | 13 | 17 |
| Service Games Won | 12 | 14 |
Rybakina Takes Over the World No. 1 Spot
Rybakina's triumph is even more significant because she was already guaranteed to become the new WTA world No. 1 after the tournament.
The US Open's official statistics confirmed before the final that Rybakina had secured the top ranking regardless of the championship result. Sabalenka's 99-week run at No. 1 was therefore set to end after the tournament.
Now Rybakina begins her reign at the top of women's tennis as a Grand Slam champion.
Sabalenka's Bid for a Three-Peat Ends
Sabalenka's defeat brings her extraordinary US Open run to an end.
The Belarusian had won the tournament in 2024 and 2025 and entered the final looking to become only the second woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles.
She had also extended her US Open winning streak to 19 matches by reaching the final, according to the tournament's official statistics.
Rybakina was ultimately the player who stopped that streak and ended Sabalenka's title defense.
Another Grand Slam Chapter in the Rybakina-Sabalenka Rivalry
The final added another major chapter to the rivalry between two of the biggest hitters in women's tennis.
Sabalenka had won their first Grand Slam final at the 2023 Australian Open, while Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final. The US Open therefore became another major showdown between the two stars.
Sabalenka entered the final with a 10–7 advantage in their first 17 meetings, making the championship match their 18th career encounter.
This time, Rybakina delivered when it mattered most.
Rybakina's 2026 Grand Slam Season Gets Even Bigger
Winning the US Open gives Rybakina a second Grand Slam title of the 2026 season after her Australian Open triumph.
Her success in New York also caps a tournament in which she reached the final alongside the other top three seeds, with the US Open noting that the top four women's seeds all reached the semifinals for the first time since 1975.
Rybakina entered the final as the No. 2 seed and leaves the tournament with the biggest prize in New York and the No. 1 ranking.