Elena Rybakina solidified her status as the best in women's tennis by defeating top-seed Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 US Open final, with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. This victory marks Rybakina's third major title and propels her to the No. 1 ranking in the upcoming USTA standings.

Rybakina's performance in the final was remarkable, especially in the third set, where she dropped only three points on her serve. She broke Sabalenka early in the third and again at 5-2, demonstrating precision and execution against the two-time defending champion.

In her post-match comments, Rybakina expressed her surprise at her success, mentioning, "It's tough to find words, I didn't expect nothing like this coming into this tournament dealing with an injury... I'm falling in love with New York."

Sabalenka, who had held the No. 1 spot for 99 consecutive weeks, aimed to make history as the first player since Serena Williams to achieve a three-peat at Flushing Meadows. However, she faced challenges as Rybakina fought off two set points in the second set before Sabalenka managed to force a decisive third.

Key moments in the match included:

• Rybakina’s 12th ace sealing the victory.
• A series of unforced errors from Sabalenka, including a double fault that gave Rybakina an early break.
• Sabalenka's frustration evident as she tossed her racket in the air during critical points.

This match marked the third Grand Slam encounter between the two players, with Rybakina now leading their finals record 5-2. With this win, Rybakina further establishes her dominance in the sport, proving to be a formidable opponent for Sabalenka moving forward.