Elena Rybakina stunned Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open, completing a remarkable turnaround after doubts over her fitness and years of disappointment at Flushing Meadows.
As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, the 27-year-old Kazakh produced a powerful display to claim her second major title of an outstanding 2026 season, despite arriving in New York with serious doubts over whether she would be fit enough to compete.
Rybakina suffered an ankle injury during her Cincinnati Open quarter-final and was unable to walk for several days. Yet she recovered in time to enter the US Open and went on to produce one of the most unexpected title runs of the tournament.
“I was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful. I’m falling in love with New York more and more,” Rybakina said.
The victory was made even more significant by her previous record at the tournament. According to BBC Sport, Rybakina had never progressed beyond the fourth round in New York before this year.
Her powerful serve and thunderous groundstrokes helped her cruise through her opening four matches before she faced tougher challenges against Zheng Qinwen and home favourite Coco Gauff.
Rybakina lost the opening set in both matches but recovered to reach the final, demonstrating the resilience needed to survive the demanding second week of a Grand Slam.
Against Sabalenka, she combined her attacking game with impressive defensive play, putting pressure on the four-time major champion from the baseline while also producing important returns.
“Some magic is happening. I was unlucky with injury and just going day by day,” Rybakina told Sky Sports. “We didn’t know how it was going to be, so I’m super happy and still can’t believe it.”
For Sabalenka, the defeat was another painful setback in a Grand Slam final.
The world number one had been attempting to become only the third woman in the Open Era, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to win three consecutive US Open titles.
However, the pressure appeared to weigh on Sabalenka from the early stages. Her aggressive second serves and costly errors allowed Rybakina to take advantage, with a double fault on a decisive break point in the opening set proving particularly damaging.
Sabalenka fought to stay in the contest but struggled to find the consistency required against Rybakina’s powerful game. Her frustration was evident as she repeatedly expressed her emotions on court.
Despite the disappointment, Sabalenka remained composed enough to address the crowd after the match.
“The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I will try my best,” an emotional Sabalenka told the 24,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess next year.”
The defeat was Sabalenka’s fifth loss in nine Grand Slam finals and will inevitably lead to further questions about her record at the biggest tournaments despite her dominance on the WTA Tour.
For Rybakina, the triumph marks a major breakthrough in New York and leaves her just one French Open title away from completing a career Grand Slam.
After years of frustration at Flushing Meadows and doubts over whether she would even be able to compete, Rybakina has finally found her moment in New York.