Rybakina defeats Sabalenka to claim first US Open crown and ascend to world No. 1

Elena Rybakina captured her first U.S. Open championship on Saturday, overcoming Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set final, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory not only gave the Kazakh-representing Russian her third Grand Slam title but also guaranteed her the world No. 1 ranking, ending Sabalenka's two-year run at the tournament.

Rybakina, who also won the Australian Open earlier this year, said she struggled to find words for the moment, noting she had been managing a minor injury but felt everything aligned for her performance.

"It’s tough to find words right now, honestly. 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 match on a 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and was aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open titles. After the loss, she expressed a sense of belonging at the venue and optimism about returning next year.

"I really felt like home here and cannot wait to come back next year. I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year."

The final marked the third US Open women’s final since 2000 contested between the top two seeds, and the first where the No. 2 seed prevailed. Rybakina, 27, previously won Wimbledon in 2022 and will target a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.