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 Today3dZverev, Rybakina top US Open winners, while influencers leave as losers
Reuters4dSabalenka feels weight of three-peat in US Open final loss
Heavy3d‘Sore Loser’ Aryna Sabalenka Blasted for Outbursts in US Open Final Loss to Elena Rybakina
Associated Press4dElena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
BBC News4dUS Open 2026 results: How Aryna Sabalenka's emotions encapsulated a season of setbacks
ESPN4dAgainst the odds: Rybakina's unexpected US Open title
Forbes2dElena Rybakina Officially Ascends To World No. 1, Qualifies for WTA FinalsCNCTV News4dElena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the U.S. Open title and punctuate her rise to No. 1
Japan Times4dRuthless Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to capture first U.S. Open crownTNDThe National Desk4dRybakina tops Sabalenka to win US Open, claim No. 1 rankingWPWPXI Pittsburgh3dElena 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 Independent4dElena Rybakina dethrones Aryna Sabalenka at US Open to cement best-in-the-world status
The Guardian3dElena Rybakina rides ‘ups and downs’ to transform status among tennis elite | Tumaini Carayol
Al Jazeera4dElena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka in US Open women’s singles final
CBS News4dElena Rybakina bests defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first U.S. Open
CNN4dNew world No. 1 Elena Rybakina wins maiden US Open title in three-set thriller
HuffPost4dElena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka To Win The U.S. Open Title
Los Angeles Times4dElena Rybakina wins first U.S. Open title by defeating Aryna SabalenkaTBGThe Boston Globe4dElena Ryabinka tops Aryna Sabalenka to win US Open women's title
Time3dThere’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 Sun3dDevastated Aryna Sabalenka tells cameraman to ‘f*** off’ and smashes racquet after US Open final loss to Elena Rybakina
Daily Mail3dESPN ripped by fans over bizarre US Open graphic celebrating Elena Rybakina's historic win
New York Post3dAryna Sabalenka tells cameraman to 'f--k off' in ugly scene after US Open loss
Fox News4dElena Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka's bid for third straight US Open title
Just the News5dRising female tennis star Rybakina wins US Open, defeats 2-time defending champ Sabalenka
NTD4dElena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Epoch Times5dElena Rybakina Beats Aryna Sabalenka to Win US Open Title and Punctuate Her Rise to No. 1
The Telegraph4dEmotions 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.