Elena Rybakina has been crowned the US Open champion, overcoming top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic final. The Kazakhstani star secured a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory, a result that also sees her claim the world No. 1 ranking.
Despite facing an Achilles injury before the tournament and battling first-serve issues in the final, Rybakina demonstrated remarkable mental toughness throughout her title run. She faced four consecutive Grand Slam or Olympic champions in the second week of the tournament, clearing every hurdle.
This triumph makes Rybakina a three-time Grand Slam champion, joining the ranks of players like Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati. With her 2022 Wimbledon and 2026 Australian Open titles, she is now just a French Open away from completing a career Grand Slam.
The final was a historic encounter, marking only the second time in 38 years that the same two rivals had competed in both the Australian and US Open finals when both were played on hard courts. Rybakina now holds the three biggest hard-court titles: the Australian Open, the US Open, and the WTA Finals.