Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan captured her first US Open singles title on Saturday, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The victory marks Rybakina’s third Grand Slam crown and her second major of 2026, solidifying her position as one of the standout athletes in global sports this year.
Known for her reserved demeanor, the 27-year-old maintained her characteristic calm throughout the final. While tennis tradition often sees champions falling to the court in celebration, Rybakina simply raised her arms, embraced Sabalenka at the net, and offered a polite applause to the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Her composed approach stood in stark contrast to the disruptive behavior of influencers and spectators who drew criticism throughout the tournament for blocking walkways and interrupting play.
The match tested Rybakina’s composure late in the second set. Sabalenka, who had already received a ball abuse violation and displayed visible frustration, converted a third set-point opportunity to force a decider. Despite Sabalenka’s experience as the defending champion and the home crowd’s desire to see a three-peat, Rybakina dominated the final set.
“I told myself that I can still do it,” Rybakina said. “I need to focus on my serve and just risk a little bit more when I have the chance.”
Rybakina’s service performance was decisive, doubling Sabalenka’s ace count with 12 compared to the Belarusian’s six. In the deciding set, Sabalenka failed to win a single point off Rybakina’s first serve, going 0-for-10 on returns.
The win makes Rybakina the first player from Kazakhstan to claim a US Open singles title. Born in Russia, she switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 after the nation’s tennis federation offered greater financial support. Standing at six feet tall, Rybakina turned to tennis after being disqualified from professional gymnastics and ice skating due to her height.
Her path to the trophy was nearly derailed by injury. A foot issue forced her to withdraw from the Cincinnati quarterfinals in August, raising doubts about her participation in New York. “It didn’t look that great,” she recalled regarding her MRI. Rybakina spent a week without handling a racket, focusing instead on recovery treatments and mental breaks.
On Monday, she is set to claim the world No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka. When asked about her post-match plans, Rybakina remained typically understated. “Don’t know what we’re going to do yet,” she said. “But I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Finally, a champion who knows how to act on court. So refreshing compared to the recent influencer chaos at tournaments.
Is it really over for Sabalenka? She looked frustrated but this final wasn’t nearly as close as the scoreline suggested.
Wait, she was disqualified from gymnastics and ice skating because of her height? That is such a wild backstory for a tennis champion.
Rybakina’s serve was absolutely electric in that final set. Dominating completely.