Rybakina beats Sabalenka in three sets to claim US Open title

Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 in the US Open final in New York to claim her third Grand Slam singles title. BBC Sport reported that the result also ended Sabalenka's 20-match winning run at Flushing Meadows, denying the two-time champion a third consecutive title at the tournament.

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The final brought together the players involved in a change at the top of the women's rankings. Rybakina had replaced Sabalenka as world number one after the Belarusian spent 99 weeks in that position. Sabalenka fought back from losing the opening set to force a decider, but Rybakina won the third set and completed the victory with an ace.

For Sabalenka, the defeat means a season without a Grand Slam singles trophy for the first time since 2022. The four-time major champion has now won four of her nine Grand Slam finals. All five defeats in those matches have come in three sets, and she won only one of the four major finals she contested while ranked world number one.

Sabalenka showed her frustration during and after the match, striking her racquet against the court and throwing it away after the final point. In comments reported by BBC Sport, she said managing her emotions was particularly difficult after losing a major final while attempting to win the title for a third straight year. She explained that she wanted to release her disappointment rather than keep it inside, and praised Rybakina in her post-match interview.

Rybakina had also beaten Sabalenka in this year's Australian Open final. Sabalenka's other major campaigns ended earlier: she lost to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals after leading by a set and 4-1, then fell to Naomi Osaka in Wimbledon's fourth round. That Wimbledon defeat was her earliest Grand Slam exit in four years, according to the BBC report.

Sabalenka has nevertheless won three WTA titles this season, at Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami. Reflecting on New York, she said there were positives to take from her level of play and that the season's experiences would motivate her to improve next year. Rybakina leaves with the US Open trophy after defeating her in both hard-court major finals this season.