Rybakina surprises Sabalenka to win US Open title

Elena Rybakina surprised Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open. This victory marked an amazing comeback after concerns about her fitness and years of struggles at Flushing Meadows.

The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan delivered a strong performance to secure her second major title of a great 2026 season. She arrived in New York with serious worries about her ability to compete due to an injury.

Rybakina hurt her ankle during her Cincinnati Open quarter-final and could not walk for several days. But she recovered just in time to compete in the US Open and went on to have one of the most unexpected title journeys in the tournament.

"I was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful. I’m falling in love with New York more and more," Rybakina said.

This victory was especially important because of her past record at the tournament. Before this year, Rybakina had never gone past the fourth round in New York.

Her strong serve and powerful groundstrokes helped her win her first four matches easily. She faced tougher opponents like Zheng Qinwen and local favorite Coco Gauff later on.

Rybakina lost the first set in both of those matches but bounced back to reach the final. This showed her ability to handle the tough second week of a Grand Slam.

In the final against Sabalenka, she mixed her attacking style with solid defensive play. She put pressure on the four-time major champion while also making key returns.

"Some magic is happening. I was unlucky with injury and just going day by day," Rybakina told Sky Sports. "We didn’t know how it was going to be, so I’m super happy and still can’t believe it."

For Sabalenka, this defeat was another tough loss in a Grand Slam final. The world number one was trying to become only the third woman in the Open Era, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to win three US Open titles in a row.

But the pressure seemed to affect Sabalenka from the start. Her aggressive second serves and mistakes let Rybakina take control. A double fault on a key break point in the first set was especially damaging.

Sabalenka tried hard to stay in the match but could not find the consistency she needed against Rybakina’s strong game. Her frustration showed as she expressed her emotions on the court.

Even with the disappointment, Sabalenka was calm enough to speak to the crowd after the match.

"The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I will try my best," an emotional Sabalenka told the 24,000 fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess next year."

This loss was Sabalenka’s fifth in nine Grand Slam finals. This will lead to more questions about her performance at the biggest events, even though she is strong on the WTA Tour.

For Rybakina, this win is a big breakthrough in New York. She is now just one French Open title away from completing a career Grand Slam. After years of challenges at Flushing Meadows and doubts about her ability to play, Rybakina has finally found her moment in New York.