RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Elena Rybakina has won the US Open after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka, completing a remarkable comeback from an injury setback earlier in the tournament build-up.
The 27-year-old Kazakh secured her second Grand Slam title of 2026 after overcoming doubts about her fitness following an ankle injury sustained at the Cincinnati Open.
Rybakina had struggled at the US Open in previous years, never advancing beyond the fourth round. However, she produced a dominant run in New York, relying on her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play.
She overcame Zheng Qinwen and home favourite Coco Gauff after losing the opening set in both matches before reaching the final.
Against Sabalenka, Rybakina combined her attacking strength with disciplined defence and consistent returns to put the four-time Grand Slam champion under sustained pressure.
The victory marked a breakthrough for Rybakina at Flushing Meadows and leaves her needing only the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.
For Sabalenka, the defeat ended her bid to become only the third woman in the Open Era, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to win three consecutive US Open titles.
The Belarusian world number one struggled with errors and inconsistency, including a costly double fault on a crucial break point.
Sabalenka, who has now lost five of nine Grand Slam finals, acknowledged her disappointment after the match but vowed to return stronger next year.
Rybakina’s triumph caps an outstanding 2026 season in which she has now won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
