NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina has officially cemented her status as the queen of women’s tennis. In a high-stakes showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, Rybakina captured her first U.S. Open title, outlasting Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to punctuate her historic ascent to the world No. 1 ranking.
The victory serves as a definitive changing of the guard. Having already secured the top spot in the WTA rankings set to be released Monday, Rybakina snatched the U.S. Open crown away from Sabalenka, who had claimed the tournament’s trophy for the previous two years.
For Rybakina, the win marks her third career Grand Slam title and her second this season. The two rivals have developed a familiar rhythm on the sport’s biggest stages; Rybakina kicked off her 2024 campaign by defeating Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, mirroring Saturday’s outcome on hard courts.
The match was as much about streaks as it was about rankings. Rybakina’s victory brought an abrupt end to Sabalenka’s dominant 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows—a run that dated back to her 2023 final loss to Coco Gauff. Sabalenka had been bidding to become the first player since Serena Williams (2012-14) to capture three consecutive U.S. Open titles, but she ultimately fell short against an opponent who seemed to have her number at every critical juncture.
The final result was a testament to Rybakina’s mental fortitude. Despite failing to find her rhythm on serve—landing less than half of her first serves—the WTA leader in aces stayed aggressive. She kept Sabalenka under relentless pressure, creating 12 break-point opportunities and converting three of them. Those few windows were all she needed to dismantle the defending champion.
The financial stakes were as grand as the trophy itself. Rybakina collected $5.5 million in prize money, the largest payout in Grand Slam history. With the win, she also ties Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for the most titles won by a player on tour this season with three.
For Sabalenka, the loss was clearly visceral. Though she walked away with $2.8 million for her runner-up finish, the disappointment was evident at the net. Following a brief embrace with Rybakina, Sabalenka walked toward her bench and smashed her racket against the court, a rare display of frustration from the former champion as she processed the end of her reign.
As the dust settles on this year’s U.S. Open, the narrative is clear: the women’s game has a new leader. Rybakina’s triumph at Flushing Meadows does not just add another trophy to her mantle; it establishes her as the definitive force in tennis heading into the final stretch of the season.
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