Elena Rybakina Claims First U.S. Open Title and No. 1 Ranking

Rybakina Completes Her New York Coronation

Elena Rybakina came to New York and took everything that had belonged to Aryna Sabalenka. First, she claimed the No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis. Then, she took the U.S. Open trophy. A tournament that had long been a struggle for Rybakina instead became the site of her coronation Saturday, when she captured her first U.S. Open women’s singles championship with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Sabalenka.

Rybakina had already secured the top ranking heading into the final and will officially replace Sabalenka at No. 1 next week. She then added even more significance to her rise by taking the trophy Sabalenka had won in each of the previous two years.

The victory gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam championship and her second major title of the 2026 season. Both of her major victories this year have come against Sabalenka on hard courts, after Rybakina defeated her to win the Australian Open earlier this season.

Rybakina Ends Sabalenka’s U.S. Open Dominance

The victory also ended one of the most impressive recent streaks at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka entered the final riding a 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open. She had not lost at the tournament since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final and had established herself as the dominant force in New York over the past two years.

Rybakina, however, refused to allow Sabalenka to complete a third consecutive championship run. After splitting the opening two sets, Rybakina took control in the deciding set. She broke away from Sabalenka and closed out the 6-2 third set to secure the biggest title of her career on the U.S. Open stage.

The victory further established Rybakina as one of the game’s premier players and capped a remarkable season in which she has now matched Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva with a tour-high three titles.

Record Prize Money Highlights Rybakina’s Historic Run

Rybakina’s championship came with a record payday as well. She earned $5.5 million for winning the U.S. Open, the largest prize awarded in Grand Slam history. Sabalenka received $2.8 million as the runner-up. For Sabalenka, however, the money offered little consolation after coming so close to extending her reign in New York.

Following the brief handshake and hug at the net, Sabalenka smashed her racket in frustration, a visible sign of how much the loss meant after she had dominated the U.S. Open for the previous two years.

For Rybakina, the emotion was entirely different. She had arrived in New York looking to overcome one of the few major obstacles remaining in her career and left as the U.S. Open champion and the new No. 1 player in the world. What had once been a difficult tournament for Rybakina had become the stage for the defining moment of her career.