NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 16, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Elena Rybakina has never been one to show much emotion on the tennis court, win or lose.
So, it should come as a big surprise to everyone that after she defeated two-time defending champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, to win her first US Open title – and third major crown overall – that her usual, stoic demeanor gave way to joy and happiness Saturday evening.
The new No. 1 Rybakina played one of her best matches of her career to defeat the former No. 1 Sabalenka in two hours and 21 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. While she initially feared an Achilles issue might derail her chance at chasing after her second Grand Slam title of the year, as it happened Rybakina went 7-0 during the New York City fortnight and lifted the shiny, silver US Open champion’s trophy high and proud. She also earned a whopping $5.5 million in prize money, the biggest paycheck of her life.
“It’s just incredible. I still can’t believe it. I mean, no words,” said Rybakina, who garnered her 49th victory of the 2026 season in defeating Sabalenka for the eighth time in 18 career meetings.
2006 champion Maria Sharapova presents Elena Rybakina with the US Open trophy! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XZ0BXBJpE7
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026
En route, Rybakina faced and beat a gauntlet of quality opponents, including two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in the semifinals and Sabalenka in the title final.
“Somehow, day by day, we were trying to find a way, adapting to all the challenges I was waking up with every day,” Rybakina said. “I was not touching my racquet for seven days before the tournament.”
By the time Rybakina faced Sabalenka, she was ready to go to battle – and did so, winning with a sense of purpose.
Despite placing a paltry 27 percent (eight-for-30) of her first serves in play early on, Rybakina won the first set by dominating with her second serve, in which she won 68 percent of the points played on it.
Then, after Sabalenka came back, breaking the Russian-born Kazakh in the final game of the second set to force a decider, Rybakina remain steady and cool. Those qualities, in stark contrast to Sabalenka, enabled her to pull out the title victory.
Upon securing championship point, Rybakina raised both of her arms above her head after she fired off one final service ace.
TOP OF THE WORLD 🌎
Elena Rybakina defeats Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her first US Open title! pic.twitter.com/7XA520vTei
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026
By the conclusion of the final, Rybakina had won 85 percent (35 of 41) of her first-serve points, struck 36 winners (12 of them aces) to 24 unforced errors, and converted three of 12 break points. She outpointed Sabalenka 103-90.
After Sabalenka congratulated Rybakina, the Belarusian obliterated her racquet once she returned to her bench. She was ready to let it all out on the court. After all, Sabalenka has a losing record in major finals – and she was really looking forward to garnering a three-peat at Flushing Meadows by winning her third-consecutive US Open title.
Instead, Rybakina exuded grace under pressure and was cool as a cucumber, while Sabalenka displayed her frustration for all to see.
“It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam, and when you were trying to go for three-peat,” Sabalenka admitted during her news conference. “So, I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside – right now here or there on the court – I wouldn’t be able to say a word … so I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go [out].”
The look of “I did it.” ☺️ pic.twitter.com/gmPMfyTMTf
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026
Meanwhile, there was happiness in Rybakina’s camp.
“There was so much going on inside, but I feel like when I played for the No. 1 ranking, it’s true, it was a relief afterward because I achieved one goal,” Rybakina told ESPN during a post-match sit down interview on the Fountain Plaza outside Arthur Ashe Stadium following the trophy ceremony.
“Of course, whatever happens after, you just try to play,” she said.
By winning the US Open, Rybakina qualified for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row. She will arrive at Indian Wells in November as the defending champion.
“I’m super happy with such an accomplishment. It’s been a crazy journey, unbelievable memories, and hopefully just the beginning,” she said in a video released by the WTA Tour on Monday.
Big city, bigger milestone 🏆
A quick word from Elena Rybakina, the new World No.1, fresh off her #USOpen win! pic.twitter.com/8qvFt5UpDR
— wta (@WTA) September 14, 2026
Looking ahead, having already won titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open, the 27-year-old Rybakina only needs to win the French Open in order to complete a career Grand Slam.
“Well, the main priority, as I was saying before, I’m not getting younger, is trying to keep myself healthy and definitely choose the calendar correctly, the training process,” Rybakina said during her champion’s news conference.
“Of course, the goal is always the biggest tournaments, you want to win them, so the Grand Slams, and yeah, just try to find the balance, try to be stable.
“Yeah, we will see what’s going to happen, but definitely it’s still a lot of work to do. The job never done, to be honest.”
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By the numbers
According to OptaAce, Elena Rybakina served the most aces in women’s singles Grand Slam events in 2026 with 116, surpassing Aryna Sabalenka (115) and Linda Noskova (115), Naomi Osaka (107) and Marta Kostyuk (83).
”Quotable …”
“Of course, on your path you learn a lot, a lot of things happening. I feel like now I have a great team, great people around me, and we just continue the work. It finally paid off, and I’m super happy, very proud.
“It’s never easy. Even now I finish here, I rest, I celebrate, and then still the tournaments are coming up. You still need to play. You still need to compete with the same players, and you still need to do your best.
“Yeah, it’s an amazing journey, and hopefully I can continue stay at the top as long as possible.”
– US Open champion Elena Rybakina, during her champion’s news conference, asked if she thought it was possible to become World No. 1 and to win the US Open.
