US Open
Elena Rybakina Wins US Open 2026 to Claim World No. 1
Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open 2026, her third Grand Slam title and the world No. 1 ranking.
Elena Rybakina is the US Open 2026 champion. The Kazakhstani defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win her first title in New York, her third Grand Slam crown and the world No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina completed a remarkable hard-court season by beating Sabalenka in a second Grand Slam final of 2026, following her Australian Open triumph. Her serve and return game consistently put Sabalenka under pressure, and she closed the deciding set 6-2 with an ace.
Sabalenka rallied to take the second set 7-5 and force a decider, but Rybakina regained control in the final set. The win ended Sabalenka’s attempt to secure a third consecutive US Open title.
Rybakina becomes world No. 1
Rybakina will replace Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings when the new list is published on Monday. It is her first spell at No. 1 and follows a 99-week reign for Sabalenka.
The trophy is Rybakina’s third major, after Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year. Her first US Open title confirms the quality of a season in which she has repeatedly delivered against the strongest opposition.
What the final means
Sabalenka and Rybakina remain the defining hard-court rivalry in the women’s game. Their two major finals in 2026 have gone Rybakina’s way, while Sabalenka’s response in the second set showed why the matchup should continue to shape the sport.
For the wider tournament story, visit the US Open 2026 hub, revisit the women’s semi-finals report and read our men’s final preview.
Rybakina’s route to the title
Rybakina’s fortnight built steadily. She beat Thea Frodin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Yuliia Starodubtseva in her opening three matches, then produced one of the tournament’s most commanding fourth-round performances to beat Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4.
Her quarter-final against Zheng Qinwen demanded a response after losing the opening set, and her semi-final against Coco Gauff followed a similar pattern. In both matches, Rybakina absorbed pressure before taking control with the serve and first-strike tennis that eventually decided the final.
The numbers behind the result
Rybakina struck 12 aces in the final and created 12 break points, converting three. The first-serve percentage was not the only story: her return game repeatedly prevented Sabalenka from settling into the aggressive rhythm that had carried her through two previous US Open title runs.
That balance was the difference in the decider. Rybakina did not need to chase points or alter her identity after Sabalenka levelled the match. She stayed composed, kept pressing the return and made the final set the clearest passage of the match.
US Open 2026 Women’s Final FAQs
Who won the US Open women’s title in 2026?
Elena Rybakina won the title, beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Was it Rybakina’s first US Open title?
Yes. It was her first title in New York and her third Grand Slam singles title.
Who will be world No. 1 after the US Open?
Rybakina will move to world No. 1 when the new WTA rankings are published on Monday.