NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina emerged victorious in the 2026 U.S. Open final, securing her place as a Grand Slam champion for the second time this year. The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. This victory prevented Sabalenka from winning the tournament for a third consecutive year.
Rybakina, seeded second, overcame the top-seeded Sabalenka through exceptional serve protection and strategic play. Despite facing challenges with her serve, Rybakina consistently positioned the ball centrally, limiting Sabalenka’s potential angles.
This win marks Rybakina’s first U.S. Open title and her third Grand Slam victory overall. Her triumph also crowned her the new world No. 1 in women’s tennis, replacing Sabalenka in the rankings.
“She played exceptionally well from the baseline, denying Sabalenka any angles.”
Sabalenka was left without a Grand Slam title this year.
Rybakina’s serve proved pivotal, especially in the first set. Despite landing only 27 percent of her first serves, she maintained a 68 percent win rate on her second serve, exploiting her ability to deliver fast serves when required.
Ava Wallace and Matt Futterman from The Athletic dissected the match. Futterman highlighted that Sabalenka couldn’t capitalize on Rybakina’s faltering first serve, as Rybakina’s second serves were efficient and difficult to counter, sometimes reaching speeds of 95 mph.
Sabalenka’s inability to dominate with her return cost her crucial points. She struggled against Rybakina’s strategic baseline play.
The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium showed substantial support for Sabalenka. Historically viewed as the underdog, Sabalenka has turned into a favorite following her past victories and charm, earning love from the New York crowd.
During the second set, Sabalenka demonstrated resilience, leveraging effective strategies to capture the set from Rybakina. She utilized creative plays and won critical points, closing the set at 5-7.
The final strategy involved utilizing variety in her shots, including a well-placed drop shot, mirroring techniques that were successful in previous matches against Rybakina.
Despite Sabalenka’s efforts, Rybakina’s approach prevailed. Throughout the match, Rybakina managed to restrain Sabalenka’s aggressive style by confining shots to the center of the court, restricting her opponent’s ability to command the play.
Federer faced Nadal with similar challenges, an essential lesson for those who occupy the No. 1 ranking.
Matt Futterman explained that Rybakina’s tactics effectively neutralized Sabalenka, requiring her to manage difficult shots hard up the center, restricting her typical corner shots.
In her post-match interview, Rybakina described her unexpected success, acknowledging Sabalenka as a formidable opponent. She expressed immense appreciation for the support she received and her growing affection for New York.
Sabalenka, despite losing, expressed determination to return and perform better next year. She creditably praised Rybakina’s game and thanked the fans for their support.