Rybakina overcomes foot injury to win US Open and secure number one ranking

Elena Rybakina won the US Open women's singles title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 in Saturday's final, completing a tournament she had entered with serious concerns over a foot injury. According to BBC Sport, the Kazakh player arrived in New York unable to walk without pain but finished the fortnight with her third Grand Slam trophy and the world number one ranking secured.

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The 27-year-old aggravated the injury during her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek last month. Rybakina said an MRI after her arrival in New York had been concerning, and that she struggled to walk pain-free for several days. She went a week without practising on court while her team worked with a doctor in Australia to devise a recovery plan. Gym sessions formed part of her preparation.

Those difficulties did not prevent a strong opening to the tournament. Rybakina won her first four matches without losing a set, with Naomi Osaka among the players she beat. She then defeated Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals and Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Reaching the last four had already ensured that she would replace Sabalenka at the top of the rankings, independently of the final's outcome.

Against the two-time defending champion, Rybakina took the opening set despite landing only 27% of her first serves. BBC Sport reported that she nevertheless won 22 of 30 points on serve in that set and faced no break points. Sabalenka responded by breaking in the 12th game of the second set, levelling the match and forcing a decider.

Rybakina regained control in the third set, although closing out the championship brought a late test. She served two double faults in the final game before reaching championship point at 40-30. Her 12th ace of the match then settled the contest, adding the New York title to her Australian Open victory over Sabalenka in January.

On Monday, Rybakina will become the 30th woman to hold the number one ranking, ending Sabalenka's 99-week spell at the top. Her major collection now includes Wimbledon in 2022 and this year's titles in Melbourne and New York. The French Open is the only Grand Slam singles championship she has yet to win; her best previous finish at Roland Garros is the quarter-finals.