New York, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open women’s singles title and cap her Grand Slam season with a third Major crown.
Rybakina completed the victory in 2 hours and 21 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The triumph marked her first US Open title and came after she had also defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January.
The Kazakhstan representative is now one Roland Garros title away from completing a Career Grand Slam.
Rybakina’s run to the New York title also ended Sabalenka’s 99-week reign as world No. 1. With the points earned at the US Open, Rybakina will move to the top of the WTA rankings when they are updated on Monday.
She became only the third player since 2000 to win both the Australian Open and US Open in the same season, joining Angelique Kerber, who achieved the feat in 2016, and Sabalenka, who did so in 2024.
The US Open triumph is Rybakina’s third title of 2026 and the 14th of her career.
Her victory improved her head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 8-10 on the WTA Tour. Remarkably, her last three wins over the Belarusian have all come in major championship matches — the WTA Finals championship match last year, the Australian Open final in January and the US Open final on Saturday.
By defeating Sabalenka, Rybakina became the first player since Serena Williams in 2002 to beat the defending women’s singles champion in a US Open final. She is also the first player to defeat a reigning World No. 1 in the US Open final since Williams overcame Victoria Azarenka in 2012.
For Sabalenka, the defeat ended her hopes of extending a remarkable run of winning at least one Grand Slam title every year since 2023. She captured her first Major at the 2023 Australian Open, defeating Rybakina in the final.
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