Elena Rybakina captured her first U.S. Open championship on Saturday, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to end Sabalenka's bid for a third consecutive title at the New York Grand Slam. The victory also propelled Rybakina to the world No. 1 ranking, displacing Sabalenka.
Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, had previously won the Australian Open earlier this year, defeating Sabalenka in that final as well. This U.S. Open title marks her third Grand Slam championship. A win at the French Open would complete a career Grand Slam for the 27-year-old.
"It’s tough to find words right now, honestly," Rybakina said after the match. "I don’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing with a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side."
Sabalenka entered the final on a 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open and was aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams from 2012-14 to win three consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows. "I really felt like home here and cannot wait to come back next year," Sabalenka stated. "I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year."
Saturday's final was the third U.S. Open women's final since 2000 to feature the top two seeds, and the first won by the No. 2 seed. In the other two instances, Serena Williams was the top seed, defeating her sister Venus in 2002 and Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
Rybakina showed brief frustration early in the third set after a missed break point but quickly regained control of the match. Despite this loss, Sabalenka still leads their career head-to-head series 10-8, having won their two previous meetings this season on hard courts in Indian Wells and Miami.
American Ben Shelton is scheduled to face German player Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final on Sunday.