By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, September 12, 2026
Photograph credit score: Simon Bruty/USTA
NEW YORK——Using a screaming serve and backhand battering ram, Elena Rybakina rocked Aryna Sabalenka backward.
The second-seeded Rybakina dethroned two-time defending champion Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to seize her maiden US Open championship and third Grand Slam crown.
On her second championship level, Rybakina rocketed her twelfth ace down the T to shut a assured two hour, 21-minute triumph.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion bookends the 2026 season with Slam title trophies ruling Melbourne and now reigning as Queen of Queens as the primary Kazakh to win the US Open singles championship.
“It’s robust to seek out phrases proper now. Coming to this match I’ve been dealing somewhat bit with harm in some way the whole lot aligned on my aspect,” Rybakina mentioned after receiving the trophy from former No. 1 Maria Sharapova. “I simply need to say, Aryna, you’re a nice champion, it’s so robust to play in opposition to you…Congrats to you and congrats to your staff.
“You guys do a tremendous job. I can’t discover the phrases now sorry. I need to say thanks to such stunning spectators for such a tremendous ambiance. I used to be coming right here final 10 years it was by no means profitable nothing near it.
“I’m falling in love with New York increasingly. It’s superb recollections for me. Thanks guys.”
An irate Sabalenka spiked her Wilson Blade racquet to the hard-court leaving a mangled mess after seeing bowing to Rybakina for the second time in a Slam remaining this season.
Scoring three consecutive three-set wins, Rybakina surpassed Sabalenka for the highest spot by reaching the semifinals. One spherical after snapping Sabalenka’s 99-week reign on the high of tennis, Rybakina shattered Sabalenka’s 19-match Flushing Meadows profitable streak. Sabalanka noticed her quest to grow to be the primary lady to three-peat as US Open champion since Serena Williams, 2012 to 2014, mentioned she was merely outplayed right this moment.
“Nicely, yeah, I’m clearly probably not proud of the extent I performed right this moment, however she served unimaginable,” Sabalenka mentioned. “She performed actually aggressive, nice tennis.
“Yeah, she was merely a greater participant right this moment than me.”
An anguished Sabalenka, who so desperately wished to retain her title after shedding her No. 1 rating, pressed again tears talking to Ashe Stadium followers.
“Thanks everybody,” an emotional Sabalenka mentioned. “Thanks to your assist all through the previous two weeks. Clearly, I’m upset. I need to congratulate Elena on an unimaginable 12 months and unimaginable outcome. Nicely deserved.”
“Thanks to my staff. I want I might carry out somewhat bit higher, however possibly subsequent 12 months. Thanks.”
Tomorrow, Rybakina will get up as new world No. 1—the thirtieth lady within the Open Period to carry the highest spot—with three main championships to her credit score. Rybakina can full the profession Grand Slam by profitable Roland Garros
In an outstanding begin, the main champions have been cracking winners from all areas earlier than a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd that included Corridor of Famers Jennifer Capriati, Tracy Austin, Billie Jean King and Gabriela Sabatini in addition to actors Brad Pitt and Rami Malek.
Ten months in the past, the sixth-seeded Rybakina accomplished a dominant undefeated Riyadh run sweeping Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) within the remaining. Rybakina raised the Billie Jean King title trophy, registered her eleventh consecutive victory—and picked up a WTA file champion’s verify of $5.235 million.
At the moment, Rybakina was practically untouchable on serve defeating Sabalenka for the second Slam remaining of the 12 months and gathering a US Open champion’s verify of $5.5 million.
The pair had break up 14 profession hard-court clashes and each introduced the warmth on serve.
The Rybakina two hander is a scary shot and he or she introduced the concern issue early, rapping a backhand move crosscourt for double break level. Sabalenka slammed forehand winners, finally erasing three break factors in all, then fired an ace holding for 2-1.
The second seed answered with a two ace sport to stage.
Straddling the baseline, a rushed Sabalenka slapped a backhand into the online to face a fourth break level. A very-ambitious Sabalenka despatched a double fault lengthy ceding serve and a 3-2 lead then belting a ball into the group in a present of frustration, and incurring a code violation warning for ball abuse.
Sliding an ace out extensive, Rybakina rolled by means of a second love maintain extending her result in 4-2—with out committing a single unforced error within the course of.
Framing a wild extensive forehand, Sabalenka confronted one other break level however punished a crosscourt forehand to reserve it. The lady in neon orange scraped by means of a tense maintain within the seventh sport.
Regardless of her first serve fleeing for a lot of the eighth sport, Rybakina banged a 102 mph physique serve on a second supply for 5-3.
The Australian Open champion staved off a few break factors serving her method to a one-set lead. Rybakina served simply 27 %, however gained 15 of twenty-two second-serve factors.
The winner of the primary set had gained 29 of the final 31 US Open ladies’s finals and Rybakina was 12-0 when profitable the opening set in Flushing Meadows.
Rifling a flat return proper into the Belarusian’s hip, Rybakina rattled out an error for break level within the third sport of the second set. Sabalenka withstood it and got here by means of the got here unscathed. Rapping her fourth ace, Rybakina held to even after 4 video games.
Stabilizing her serve and temper, Sabalanka stamped her past love maintain for 4-3.
A double fault and stray forehand put the second seed down within the tenth sport. Then Sabalenka scalded her greatest return down the road incomes double set level on the Kazakh’s serve.
Amping up her grunt, Sabalenka despatched a forehand lengthy on the primary set level. A terrific second serve stretched the Belarusian and her backhand went extensive on the second set level.
Whipping the extensive serve to arrange a forcing forehand winner down the road, Rybakina held robust to stage after 10 video games.
Tomahawking a daring forehand drive volley down the road, Sabalenka sealed a six-minute maintain—the longest sport of the ultimate—edging forward for 6-5.
Strengthened by that battle, Sabalenka drew a framed error for a 3rd set level on the second seed’s serve.
Studying the extensive serve, Sabalenka clubbed a backhand return down the road breaking to grab the second set on her third set level.
It was the lone break of the second set. By then the pair had gained exactly 71 factors apiece with the US Open championship using on the ultimate set.
Dodging a break level to begin the third, Sabalenka held to begin the third set. Two video games later, Rybakina confirmed her defensive expertise stretching lots again deep within the courtroom for double break level. Sabalenka couldn’t management her forehand as Rybakina broke for a 2-1 lead.
Rybakina managed a robust maintain at 15 extending to 3-1.
Hammering deep drives down the center, Rybakina rapped out a second break level. Following a forehand down the road ahead, Rybakina wristed a forehand volley into the open courtroom breaking for 5-2.
A disconsolate Sabalenka stared on the floor as she walked to her court-side seat figuring out the second had handed. Sabalanke nonetheless leads her head-to-head with Rybakina, 10-8, however the brand new No. 1 has set a better customary of their two main finals this 12 months leaving Sabalenka chasing the highest spot and her first tile since Miami final April.
“We have now an amazing rivalry. We play a whole lot of nice matches, nice finals this season,” Sabalenka mentioned. “Yeah her serve is superb, the best way she in a position to step in and overpower you on courtroom, and particularly if it’s a US Open courtroom the place it’s tremendous quick, positively enormous benefit for her.
“Lots of issues makes her harmful.”
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