Elena Rybakina has cemented her position as the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player after defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 to win her first US Open title at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 27-year-old, representing Kazakhstan, had already secured the No. 1 ranking ahead of next week’s rankings update. She confirmed her rise to the top with a composed performance against the tournament’s top seed, ending Sabalenka’s bid to win the US Open for a third consecutive year.
Sabalenka was attempting to become only the third woman in the Open Era to achieve a New York hat-trick, following in the footsteps of Chris Evert and Serena Williams. However, Rybakina’s powerful groundstrokes and resilience proved decisive in the final set.
After the match, Sabalenka expressed her frustration by smashing her racket as Rybakina celebrated a landmark victory—the third Grand Slam title of her career.
Rybakina’s triumph is particularly impressive given the ankle injury that threatened to disrupt her campaign before the tournament began. She overcame those concerns to add the US Open crown to her Australian Open title earlier this year and her Wimbledon championship in 2022.
The victory establishes Rybakina as one of the leading figures in women’s tennis and completes her ascent to the summit of the world rankings.