Elena Rybakina won the 2026 US Open women’s singles title after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on September 12. The victory gave her a first US Open trophy and a third Grand Slam singles title.
Playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, Rybakina defeated the top seed and two-time defending champion. She also won both hard-court Grand Slam events in 2026: the Australian Open and US Open. The official US Open final gallery records the result and trophy presentation.
Her success in New York came during another major career moment. Rybakina had already secured the world No. 1 ranking before the final. The change took effect on September 14.
Elena Rybakina US Open 2026: Final Score
| Player | First set | Second set | Third set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Rybakina | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 4 | 7 | 2 |
The final lasted two hours and 21 minutes. Rybakina won the opening set, lost the second, then took control of the deciding set. Here is how the match unfolded, according to the WTA’s final report.
Rybakina takes the opening set
Rybakina broke Sabalenka’s serve to lead 3-2 in the first set. A break means winning a game when the other player serves.
Despite landing just 27% of her first serves in that set, she kept her lead and won it 6-4.
Sabalenka fights back
The second set was closer. Rybakina saved two set points while serving to stay in the set at 4-5.
However, Sabalenka earned another chance. She broke Rybakina’s serve in the final game to take the set 7-5 and force a third.
Rybakina finishes strongly
Rybakina broke early in the deciding set to move ahead 2-1. She later hit a volley winner to secure another break and lead 5-2.
Finally, she finished the match with an ace, her 12th of the final.
For readers new to tennis scoring, our guide explains why women’s Grand Slam matches use a best-of-three-set format.
The Numbers Behind Rybakina’s Victory
Rybakina’s serve played an important role, even though she did not land it as often as she would have wanted.
Across the full match, she made 47% of her first serves. When those first serves went in, she won 85% of the points.
The WTA’s breakdown of the final also recorded:
- 12 aces: serves Sabalenka could not touch.
- 36 winners: shots that ended points without Sabalenka making an error.
- 24 unforced errors: mistakes on shots judged to be within the player’s control.
These figures help explain the result. Rybakina’s first serve was effective when it landed. In addition, she finished many points with winning shots.
However, the statistics also show that she did not need a perfect serving day to win. She found ways to hold serve and respond after losing a set. She also created chances on Sabalenka’s service games.
How Elena Rybakina Reached World No. 1
Rybakina’s US Open title and her rise to No. 1 happened in the same week. However, they were separate milestones.
She secured the top ranking after her quarterfinal win over Zheng Qinwen on September 9. Her position became official when the rankings changed on Monday, September 14.
At 27, she became the first player representing Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach No. 1 in singles. She was also the 30th woman to lead the WTA singles rankings. The WTA’s official ranking announcement confirmed these milestones.
Her rise followed strong results across several events. Those included the 2025 WTA Finals title, the 2026 Australian Open title and a victory in Stuttgart in April.
In short, Rybakina arrived at the US Open final knowing she would become No. 1. She then added the championship trophy to that achievement.
For more context, read our guide to how WTA rankings and points work.
Rybakina’s Road to the US Open 2026 Title
Coming back against Zheng Qinwen
Rybakina had to recover from a slow start in the quarterfinals.
Zheng won the opening set, but Rybakina responded to claim a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory. As a result, she reached her first US Open semifinal and secured the top ranking.
The WTA quarterfinal report describes how she found a way back after falling behind.
Beating Coco Gauff in the semifinals
Next came Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion.
Rybakina again lost the first set before winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. After the opening set, she played more aggressively. She stepped closer to the baseline and moved towards the net.
The final set remained tense. Rybakina broke to lead 5-3, but Gauff broke straight back. Rybakina then won the next game on Gauff’s serve to reach the final.
The official US Open semifinal report details that comeback.
Together, these matches show how demanding her closing rounds were. She needed three sets against Zheng, Gauff and Sabalenka to finish the tournament.
Two Major Final Wins Against Sabalenka in 2026
The New York final was the second time Rybakina had beaten Sabalenka for a Grand Slam title in 2026.
On January 31, she won the Australian Open final 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. That match lasted two hours and 18 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
Rybakina entered that tournament as the fifth seed. She left with her first Australian Open title and her second major overall. Her first had come at Wimbledon in 2022. The Australian Open’s official match report confirms those details.
Both 2026 finals followed the same basic pattern. First, Rybakina won the opening set. Then Sabalenka took the second, before Rybakina won the deciding set.
Rybakina’s Grand Slam Titles So Far
Rybakina now has singles titles at three of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments.
| Year | Tournament | Surface |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Wimbledon | Grass |
| 2026 | Australian Open | Hard court |
| 2026 | US Open | Hard court |
Roland Garros is the only major she has yet to win. Winning all four at least once is known as a career Grand Slam.
Her New York victory added a new tournament to her record. The Australian Open’s report on her US Open success confirms that it was her third major and second of the season.
What the US Open Win Means for Rybakina
Elena Rybakina leaves the 2026 US Open with two clear achievements: her first title in New York and her first spell as world No. 1.
The final also gave her another major win over Sabalenka, following their Australian Open meeting in January.
For Kazakhstan, her rise marks a first at the top of the singles rankings. Meanwhile, Rybakina’s record now includes Grand Slam titles on both grass and hard courts.
