Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka to claim maiden US Open crown

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The 27-year-old Kazakh, born in Russia, maintained her composure throughout a gripping contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium to end Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at the US Open.

The victory also completed a remarkable Grand Slam season for Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this year after claiming her first major title at Wimbledon in 2022.Rybakina entered the tournament with concerns over an ankle injury but overcame the setback to produce some of the finest tennis of her career.

She became only the third woman this century, after Angelique Kerber and Sabalenka, to win both hard-court Grand Slam titles in the same season. “It’s tough to find words.

I didn’t expect anything like this coming into the tournament,” Rybakina said after her triumph. “Everything aligned together on my side.”The final initially belonged to the Kazakh, whose powerful groundstrokes repeatedly troubled Sabalenka.

Rybakina broke for a 3-2 lead in the opening set and held her nerve to take the advantage despite the Belarusian’s fierce serving and aggressive play.

Sabalenka, visibly frustrated after a difficult opening set, responded strongly in the second.

The Belarusian raised her level, mixing powerful backhands with a well-timed drop shot before forcing the match into a decider.The third set, however, belonged firmly to Rybakina.

She regained control with her aggressive baseline game and steadily pulled away from her opponent, establishing a 5-2 lead before serving out the match to complete a landmark victory.

The triumph denied Sabalenka a chance to join Serena Williams and Chris Evert as the only women to win three consecutive US Open singles titles.Sabalenka, who had also lost to Rybakina in this year’s Australian Open final, was left without a Grand Slam title in 2026. “It’s tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of a Grand Slam,” Sabalenka said. “I’m disappointed, but I want to….

I wish I could have performed a bit better.”Rybakina collected $5.5 million in prize money and the US Open trophy from five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, capping a breakthrough season with another major milestone.