Rybakina wins US Open, denies Sabalenka third straight title

Elena Rybakina secured her third Grand Slam title and claimed the US Open crown on Saturday, defeating perennial rival Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The Kazakhstan player's victory not only marked her rise to world number one but also made history as the second woman to defeat a world number one in two Grand Slam finals within a year, following in the footsteps of Steffi Graf in 1995.

Sabalenka, unbeaten in her last 20 matches at Flushing Meadows, staged a spirited comeback in the second set, breaking Rybakina's serve for the first time with a winning point in the final game. However, Rybakina's composed play allowed her to regain control and clinch the victory, leaving a visibly frustrated Sabalenka, who smashed her racket in despair as her opponent was cheered by the crowd.