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 25 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 10 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.
USA Today5hElena Rybakina wins US Open, denying Aryna Sabalenka three-peat
Reuters4hSabalenka feels weight of three-peat in US Open final loss
Heavy2hElena Rybakina Just Kept the US Open’s Most Bizarre ‘Prophecy’ Alive–And She Did It Knowingly
Associated Press3hElena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
ESPN2hAgainst the odds: Rybakina's unexpected US Open title
BBC News5hUS Open 2026 results: Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win New York titleCNCTV News4hElena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the U.S. Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
Forbes5hNew World No. 1 Elena Rybakina Halts Aryna Sabalenka 3-Peat Bid At U.S. Open
Japan Times1hRuthless Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to capture first U.S. Open crownTNDThe National Desk5hRybakina tops Sabalenka to win US Open, claim No. 1 rankingLeft coverage, 7 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.
The Independent5hElena Rybakina dethrones Aryna Sabalenka at US Open to cement best-in-the-world status
Al Jazeera5hElena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka in US Open women’s singles final
CBS News4hElena Rybakina bests defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first U.S. Open
CNN5hNew world No. 1 Elena Rybakina wins maiden US Open title in three-set thriller
Los Angeles Times5hElena Rybakina wins first U.S. Open title by defeating Aryna SabalenkaTBGThe Boston Globe4hElena Ryabinka tops Aryna Sabalenka to win US Open women's title
The Guardian5hElena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to seal dramatic US Open title triumphRight 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.
The Sun5hElena Rybakina breaks down in tears as she lands £4million prize and new world No1 status after toppling Aryna Sabalenka
Daily Mail3hUS Open organizers suffer huge blunder at trophy presentation as eagle-eyed fans spot glaring mistake
New York Post3hAryna Sabalenka destroys racket in wild meltdown after losing US Open final
Fox News2hElena Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka's bid for third straight US Open title
Just the News1dRising female tennis star Rybakina wins US Open, defeats 2-time defending champ Sabalenka
NTD5hElena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Epoch Times1dElena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Telegraph5hEmotions run high and Sabalenka smashes racket after Rybakina clinches US OpenWhat’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.