Rybakina Wins First US Open Title, Denies Sabalenka Three-Peat
Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to win the US Open women's singles title at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- £4.1 million champion's prize is the largest in Grand Slam history.
- Sabalenka committed 35 unforced errors; 14 came in the first set alone.
- 99 consecutive weeks at No. 1 ended for Sabalenka with the defeat.
- Rybakina now leads their hard-court series 8-7 across 15 meetings.
Why it matters: Sabalenka was chasing history. Only Chris Evert and Serena Williams had won three consecutive US Open titles in the Open Era.
- Rybakina claimed the No. 1 ranking regardless of the final's outcome, secured by her quarterfinal win over Qinwen Zheng.
How 28 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 11 sources: The center focuses on the match mechanics — Sabalenka's unforced errors, the three-peat bid denied, and the hard statistical record between the two players.
Left coverage, 9 sources: The left frames Rybakina as the undisputed new queen of the sport, emphasizing she proved herself beyond any doubt by winning the title outright.
Right coverage, 8 sources: The right leads with the record prize money and the celebrity spectacle, framing the final as a clash of contrasting personalities as much as a tennis match.
What’s next: Rybakina officially becomes world No. 1 when WTA rankings update Monday.
- Whether Rybakina can hold the No. 1 ranking into the end-of-season stretch remains to be seen.
- Sabalenka smashed her racket after the loss; whether she faces a formal sanction beyond the in-match warning is not yet known.
