Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in New York on Saturday, September 12, to win her first US Open title, Reuters and AP reported. The Kazakhstan player ended the defending champion's bid for a third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.
The victory gave Rybakina a third Grand Slam singles crown, after Wimbledon in 2022 and this year's Australian Open. She also defeated Sabalenka in the Melbourne final. According to Reuters, an ankle injury had raised doubts about her participation before the New York tournament.
Reuters reported that Rybakina broke for a 3-2 lead in the first set following a Sabalenka double fault. Sabalenka recovered to take the second set and force a decider. Rybakina then moved ahead 5-2 in the third before completing the win.
Both finalists had beaten American opponents in the semifinals. WTA coverage records Rybakina's 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Coco Gauff and Sabalenka's 7-5, 6-2 win over Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka entered the final with 20 consecutive US Open match victories, a streak Saturday's defeat ended.
AP reported that Rybakina said she was still trying to process her recent achievements. Sabalenka congratulated her opponent while expressing disappointment with her own performance, according to Reuters. She thanked the New York crowd for its support and said she looked forward to returning next year.
Rybakina will replace Sabalenka at No. 1 when the rankings are updated on Monday, September 14. The WTA had confirmed the change after her quarterfinal victory over Zheng Qinwen, so it did not depend on the final's outcome. She becomes the 30th woman to lead the WTA singles rankings.
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