Elena Rybakina crushes Aryna Sabalenka's 3-peat dream, clinches US Open crown

Elena Rybakina has dethroned Aryna Sabalenka to become the new US Open champion, crushing the Belarusian’s bid for a historic three-peat at Flushing Meadows. In front of a packed house on Saturday, Rybakina produced a composed display to beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 21 minutes.

Rybakina, the queen of aces, fittingly sealed her triumph with her signature weapon. She fired an ace on championship point before erupting in celebration, completing a stunning victory and claiming her maiden US Open crown.

The scenes on court could not have been more contrasting. While Rybakina soaked in the glory of her landmark triumph, Sabalenka was left to deal with the heartbreak, eventually venting her frustration by destroying her racket.

Sabalenka had been chasing history, looking to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open three years in a row. But Rybakina once again proved to be her nemesis.TOP OF THE WORLDElena Rybakina defeats Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her first US Open title! pic.twitter.com/7XA520vTei— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

The Kazakh had already beaten Sabalenka at the WTA Finals last year and the Australian Open this year before taking the world No.1 ranking from her. Now, she has denied Sabalenka a historic three-peat and claimed her third Grand Slam title.

Rybakina has now won two Grand Slam titles in 2026 and three of the four majors in her career, with only Roland Garros missing from her collection.RYBAKINA DICTATES TERMS IN OPENING SET Rybakina won the US Open for the first time in her career. Courtesy: Reuters

Rybakina dictated the terms for much of the opening set, using her powerful serve and clean ball-striking to keep Sabalenka under constant pressure in the US Open final.

The Kazakh initially had to withstand Sabalenka’s explosive start, with the Belarusian holding serve after a pulsating opening game. But Rybakina quickly settled into her rhythm. She held to love in her next service game, firing four straight points and making it difficult for Sabalenka to impose herself from the baseline.

The turning point came at 2-2. Rybakina had already earned three break points earlier in the set, and this time she made the pressure count. Sabalenka struggled to find her range as Rybakina kept raising the intensity, with a costly double fault eventually handing the Kazakh the breakthrough for a 3-2 lead.

Rybakina then consolidated the advantage emphatically. She raced to 40-0 before producing another ace, with a Sabalenka error completing a commanding hold for 4-2.

The Kazakh continued to dictate with her aggressive first-strike tennis, forcing Sabalenka into errors and denying the defending champion the chance to establish any sustained momentum. Even when Sabalenka fought her way to set point in the eighth game, Rybakina remained composed.

At 5-4, Rybakina kept her nerve when Sabalenka saved one set point. Two crucial backhand winners kept the pressure on before another Sabalenka backhand error finally sealed the set.

After 44 minutes, Rybakina had taken the opening set 6-4, having consistently controlled the tempo and forced Sabalenka to play on her terms.SABALENKA DIGS DEEP TO FORCE A DECIDER Sabalenka bounced back in the second set of the final. Courtesy: Reuters

Sabalenka showed tremendous resilience to fight her way back into the US Open final, overturning Rybakina’s early dominance to claim the second set 7-5 and force a deciding set.

The Belarusian was under immediate pressure after dropping the opening set. She managed to hold serve at the start of the second, but Rybakina continued to attack aggressively and twice threatened to break.

Sabalenka dug deep, saving two crucial break points before closing out the game with a service winner. The escape proved vital as she gradually began to find greater authority on her returns and shortened rallies with her powerful forehand.

At 3-3, Sabalenka again had to withstand pressure before finally finding a dominant service game. She held to love at 4-3, opening with a forehand winner and capitalising on three consecutive Rybakina errors.

The momentum was beginning to shift. With the set locked at 4-4, Sabalenka sensed an opening, but Rybakina held firm. Serving at 4-5, the Kazakh faced her biggest test of the set, yet she saved two break points with an ace and a crucial backhand winner to make it 5-5.

Sabalenka refused to let the opportunity slip away. She held for 6-5 after surviving another tense game, producing a clutch ace and a forehand volley winner.

Serving to stay in the set, Rybakina finally cracked. A costly double fault and forehand error handed Sabalenka the opening she needed. Although Rybakina fought back with a backhand winner, Sabalenka held her nerve to take the set 7-5 and send the final into a decider.advertisementRYBAKINA DOMINATES SABALENKA Elena Rybakina hammered Sabalenka in the deciding set. Courtesy: Reuters The deciding set began with another huge test for Sabalenka. She survived a marathon opening service game, saving multiple break points, but Rybakina immediately turned up the pressure again.

The Kazakh held to love with two aces before finally finding the breakthrough at 2-1. Once she had the advantage, Rybakina never looked back. She consolidated the break with a backhand volley winner and an ace, leaving Sabalenka struggling to find answers.

Sabalenka briefly stemmed the tide by holding for 2-3, but Rybakina remained firmly in command. She raced through her next service game to move 4-2 ahead, with Sabalenka’s errors adding to her growing frustration.

The decisive blow came at 4-2. Sabalenka appeared to have the game under control at 30-0, but Rybakina fought back brilliantly. A double fault and a backhand error opened the door, and the Kazakh eventually converted her second break point with a superb forehand volley winner.

At 5-2, the championship was within touching distance. Rybakina stayed composed despite two double faults, opening with an ace before following it with a forehand winner. Another double fault briefly gave Sabalenka hope, but Rybakina responded with another forehand winner to earn match point.

Rybakina fired an ace to seal the biggest victory of her career. She dropped her racket, raised her arms and celebrated a landmark triumph as Sabalenka’s title defence came to an end.

For Sabalenka, the defeat meant she ended 2026 without a Grand Slam title. For Rybakina, it marked another major milestone in a remarkable season and further underlined her growing dominance at the very top of the sport.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 04:46 IST