Elena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win U.S. Open
The victory at Flushing Meadows earns the second seed her third Grand Slam title and secures the world number one ranking starting Monday.
Elena Rybakina defeated reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday at Flushing Meadows to claim the U.S. Open women's singles title. The victory gives the second seed her first U.S. Open trophy and her third Grand Slam title overall. Following the result, Rybakina will take over the world number one ranking from Sabalenka on Monday.
Rybakina established control from the baseline by directing shots down the middle of the court, denying the top-seeded Sabalenka the wide angles she typically exploits. Although Rybakina struggled with her first-serve accuracy in the opening set, landing 8 of 30 first serves (27%), Sabalenka failed to convert opportunities against the second serve. Rybakina delivered second serves reaching speeds around 95 mph with heavy kick, ultimately winning 68% of her second-serve points.
Sabalenka, who reached the final after attacking Jessica Pegula's second serve in the semifinals, committed crucial return errors during key moments. Serving at 4-3 in the first set, Rybakina held after Sabalenka sent consecutive second-serve returns into the net at deuce and game point. Rybakina maintained baseline control through the deciding set to close out the victory.
