Elena Rybakina delivered a devastating display to dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4 5-7 6-2 win in the US Open final on Saturday, earning a third Grand Slam crown to accompany her ascent to world number one. The Russian-born Kazakh's icy composure on the grand stage helped her snap Sabalenka's 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and denied the Belarusian the chance to emulate Serena Williams and Chris Evert with three straight New York titles. An ankle injury had threatened to derail Rybakina's campaign even before the tournament started, but the 27-year-old shrugged off those concerns to add the US Open title to her Australian Open triumph this year and Wimbledon success in 2022.
"It's tough to find words... I didn't expect anything like this coming into the tournament," said Rybakina, who became only the third woman this century to claim both hardcourt majors in the same year after Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber. "I've been dealing a bit with an injury. Somehow, everything aligned together on my side. It's so difficult to play against you. You push me to the limit. I want to say thank you to the beautiful spectators for such a beautiful atmosphere. I'm falling in love with New York more and more." Saturday's title showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium had all the ingredients of a classic between the top two in the rankings, and though Sabalenka brought late aggression, Rybakina was typically unruffled and prevailed to pocket the $5.5 million prize.
"It's going to be different to wake up the next morning knowing you've won the US Open and achieved the world number one ranking," said Rybakina, who collected her trophy from Russian five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova. "It's a relief, because you do all the routines for the past two to three weeks. It's a lot of work, a lot of nerves also." Dressed in a yellow-and-black match kit that evoked a bee, Rybakina produced some stinging groundstrokes but was unable to make the early pressure count as Sabalenka unleashed big serves to hold firm in the pair's third Grand Slam final meeting.
The second seed drew first blood to go ahead 3-2 following a Sabalenka double fault, with the frustrated Belarusian earning a code violation immediately afterwards for launching a ball high into the stands of the main show court. "It's really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you're trying to go for the 'three-peat', so I wanted to let it go," Sabalenka said. "If I had held it inside, I wouldn't be able to say a word." Sabalenka's irritation became increasingly evident with each missed shot and squandered opportunity, in stark contrast to the trademark calm etched on Rybakina's face as the Kazakh tightened her grip on the opening set and clinched it with a tight hold.