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.
USA Today1w+Zverev, Rybakina top US Open winners, while influencers leave as losers
Reuters1w+Sabalenka feels weight of three-peat in US Open final loss
Heavy1w+‘Sore Loser’ Aryna Sabalenka Blasted for Outbursts in US Open Final Loss to Elena Rybakina
Associated Press1w+Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
BBC News1w+US Open 2026 results: How Aryna Sabalenka's emotions encapsulated a season of setbacks
ESPN1w+Against the odds: Rybakina's unexpected US Open title
Forbes1w+Elena Rybakina Officially Ascends To World No. 1, Qualifies for WTA FinalsCNCTV News1w+Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the U.S. Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
Japan Times1w+Ruthless Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to capture first U.S. Open crownTNDThe National Desk1w+Rybakina tops Sabalenka to win US Open, claim No. 1 rankingWPWPXI Pittsburgh1w+Elena Rybakina's US Open title run puts her on top of women's tennis and Sabalenka has work to doLeft 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.
The Independent1w+Elena Rybakina dethrones Aryna Sabalenka at US Open to cement best-in-the-world status
The Guardian1w+Elena Rybakina rides ‘ups and downs’ to transform status among tennis elite | Tumaini Carayol
Al Jazeera1w+Elena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka in US Open women’s singles final
CBS News1w+Elena Rybakina bests defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first U.S. Open
CNN1w+New world No. 1 Elena Rybakina wins maiden US Open title in three-set thriller
HuffPost1w+Elena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka To Win The U.S. Open Title
Los Angeles Times1w+Elena Rybakina wins first U.S. Open title by defeating Aryna SabalenkaTBGThe Boston Globe1w+Elena Ryabinka tops Aryna Sabalenka to win US Open women's title
Time1w+There’s a New Tennis Force in TownRight 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 Sun1w+Devastated Aryna Sabalenka tells cameraman to ‘f*** off’ and smashes racquet after US Open final loss to Elena Rybakina
Daily Mail1w+ESPN ripped by fans over bizarre US Open graphic celebrating Elena Rybakina's historic win
New York Post1w+Aryna Sabalenka tells cameraman to 'f--k off' in ugly scene after US Open loss
Fox News1w+Elena Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka's bid for third straight US Open title
Just the News1w+Rising female tennis star Rybakina wins US Open, defeats 2-time defending champ Sabalenka
NTD1w+Elena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Epoch Times1w+Elena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Telegraph1w+Emotions 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.