Elena Rybakina bests defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first U.S. Open
Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending U.S. Open champion, was dethroned Saturday, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Elena Rybakina defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first U.S. Open title. Rybakina won 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, marking her third Grand Slam title, with two victories against Sabalenka on hard courts this year. The tournament, which had been challenging for Rybakina in the past, turned into a coronation as she unseated Sabalenka from the No. 1 ranking.
Despite hitting fewer than half of her first serves, Rybakina's strong return game and consistent pressure allowed her to convert three break points, ultimately winning the match. Sabalenka, who had won the previous two years, smashed her racket after the match, expressing her disappointment in not being "good enough." This marked the first time since 2000 that a challenger defeated the top seed in a women's U.S. Open final, with Rybakina now needing only the French Open to complete her career Grand Slam.
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