In the same week she took Aryna Sabalenka’s title as the best player in the world, Elena Rybakina also took her US Open crown in a thrilling women’s singles final in New York on Sunday morning Australian time.
In a repeat of this year’s Australian Open final between the pair, Rybakina claimed the first set before Sabalenka sent it to a decider, and then the Kazakh responded to clinch a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 triumph in two hours and 21 minutes.
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The 27-year-old sealed her third grand slam title, following her victory at Melbourne Park in January and her 2022 Wimbledon title, with an ace.
“It’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said during the trophy presentation.
“I didn’t expect anything like this, coming to this tournament.
“I was dealing with a bit of an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.
“I want to say to Aryna, you are a great champion. It’s so difficult to play against you, you push to such limits.
“I was doubting on the court and trying to get all the possible balls.
“I’m falling in love with New York more and more, and it’s amazing memories for me.”
While Sabalenka missed her shot at history, after lifting the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2024 and 2025, the Belarussian was looking to join Serena Williams and Chris Evert as the only women to win three straight US Opens.
“The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I’ll try my very best,” she said during the trophy presentation.
“Thank you everyone. Thank you for all your support.
“Obviously I’m d, but I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, an incredible result.
“Well deserved. Enjoy it tonight, and have fun. So I can win some titles!
“I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess there’s next year.”
Sabalenka’s grand slam demons re-emerged in the third set with the 28-year-old’s serve going wayward as she let out her frustrations on several occasions before smashing her racquet after the match was over.
Sabalenka has lost four of her last five grand slam finals, including the last two Australian Open deciders.
“That is something she has clearly not yet got control of – the emotions in big matches,” Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge said on Channel 9’s coverage.
Sabalenka will end the year without a major title for the first time since 2022.
The two biggest hitters in the women’s game came out swinging. After Rybakina held to love in the second game, she had Sabalenka in trouble in the third, unleashing a backhand passing winner to set up the first break chances of the match.
Sabalenka saved one break point with a forehand down the line and ripped another forehand winner on the next. A double fault gave Rybakina another look but Sabalenka held on with a volley winner before sealing the game with her first ace.
Two games later, however, Rybakina seized control as she relentlessly pushed Sabalenka back with her deep groundstrokes. Unsettled, Sabalenka double faulted on break point, then smacked a ball skyward to draw a code violation warning for ball abuse.
After another love hold from Rybakina, and a break point saved from Sabalenka, the margin was 4-3.
Rybakina hadn’t committed a single unforced error through seven games and Sabalenka was looking increasingly desperate.
Serving to extend the set at 5-3, she crushed an overhead several feet beyond the baseline and had to regroup before closing the game with an ace and a service winner.
But Rybakina wouldn’t be denied, and despite a hint of nerves as she coughed up her first double fault of the match, she polished off the set 6-4 with a screaming backhand winner before Sabalenka sailed a shot long to end the deciding rally.
The second set started much the same, Sabalenka saving a pair of break points in the third game before thumping down a massive serve to hold.
She had yet to make any headway against Rybakina’s serve, but she seemed to have found something on her own, twice holding to love as she took a 5-4 lead.
Sabalenka’s first break points of the match gave her a chance to close out the set, but she smacked a forehand long on the first and belted a service return long on the second as Rybakina leveled the set at 5-5.
Nevertheless, Sabalenka was gaining in confidence. She held for a 6-5 lead then broke Rybakina with authority to force a third set — but it proved only a brief reprieve.
“I wish I could have performed a little better,” Sabalenka told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, her voice breaking, “but I guess next year.”
The men’s final will be played between top seed Alexander Zverev and American Ben Shelton on Monday morning Australian time.