Elena Rybakina Claims First U.S. Open Title With Victory Over Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina captured her maiden U.S. Open championship on Saturday by defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, ended Sabalenka’s pursuit of becoming the third woman in history to win the American Grand Slam tournament three consecutive times.

The match, which lasted two hours and 21 minutes, was marked by visible frustration from the 28-year-old Belarusian. Sabalenka received a warning for smashing her racket and eventually destroyed a second one after the final point. She committed 35 unforced errors throughout the contest, a statistic that significantly impacted the player who had held the top WTA ranking for 99 straight weeks.

“I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside (on the court),” Sabalenka said regarding her emotional outbursts. “It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for (a) three-peat, so I just wanted to let it go.”

Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but remained focused on future improvement. “I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year,” she said. “Obviously, not really happy with the level I played (at).” This defeat marked the first time since 2022 that Sabalenka failed to win a Grand Slam title during the calendar year.

Despite the heartbreak, Sabalenka noted the surprising support she received from the crowd, which often cheered for her comebacks. “At some point I felt like, ‘Oh my God, I feel American,'” she joked. “I just wish I could win it and feel the support even more. Not this year.”

For Rybakina, the win represented a breakthrough at a major championship. She overcame a challenging final to secure the trophy, dethroning the player who had dominated the event in recent years. The result stands as Rybakina’s first U.S. Open title, adding a significant milestone to her professional career.