Elena Rybakina proves why she is the new world No. 1 by beating Sabalenka for US Open title

Elena Rybakina completed a statement victory at the US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to claim her third Grand Slam title and her first championship at Flushing Meadows. After losing the opening set and being pushed to the limit in the second, the Kazakh found another level in the decider to close out one of the biggest victories of her career.

The title also provided the perfect confirmation of Rybakina's arrival at the top of the women's game. Having already secured the world No. 1 ranking before the final, she now leaves New York with the biggest trophy available and a third major to her name, showing exactly why she has taken over the top spot from Sabalenka.

Rybakina made the stronger start to the US Open final, recovering from an early test on serve before taking control of the opening set. Sabalenka opened with authority and immediately looked to impose her trademark power, but the new world No. 1 remained composed as the rallies became more physical.

The key moment came at 2-2. Sabalenka had already saved three break points in a demanding service game, but Rybakina continued to apply pressure and finally found the breakthrough in the following game. A double fault from the defending champion handed her the break, and Rybakina followed it with a love hold to consolidate her advantage at 4-2.

Sabalenka tried to fight her way back into the set and saved another break point at 3-4, taking her total to four converted saves from five break points faced. But Rybakina never gave her a look at a break point of her own, relying on her first serve to escape a difficult game at 3-5 before serving out the set. The Kazakh closed it 6-4 with the same trademark composure that has defined her rise to the No. 1 ranking.

Sabalenka refused to let the final slip away and gradually began to find cracks in Rybakina's seemingly impenetrable game. The defending champion saved a break point early in the set and grew increasingly assertive in the longer exchanges, while Rybakina continued to hold comfortably behind a dominant first serve. By 3-3, she had won 89% of points behind her first delivery and had still not faced a break point.

The pressure finally began to tell as the set entered its decisive stages. Sabalenka held firmly for 5-4 to put Rybakina under pressure, but the new world No. 1 responded with remarkable composure. Rybakina saved three break points in the next game, with Sabalenka unable to take advantage of her first opportunities to threaten the serve. The missed chances only appeared to increase the Belarusian's frustration, but she held again to force Rybakina to serve for the set at 6-5.

That was where Sabalenka finally found her breakthrough. Rybakina's resistance cracked under another sustained assault, with a powerful backhand forcing the error Sabalenka had been searching for all set. The four-time Grand Slam champion converted her first break opportunity of the match in the 12th game, sealing a 7-5 second set and dragging the final into a decider after a remarkable fightback.

Sabalenka carried the momentum of the second set into the decider, but Rybakina refused to let the match turn completely in her opponent's favor. After Sabalenka fought through a demanding opening service game, Rybakina immediately restored parity and then struck the first decisive blow, breaking in the sixth game to move 2-1 ahead. The Kazakh remained composed as Sabalenka tried to impose herself from the baseline, quickly consolidating the advantage.

Sabalenka responded to stay within touching distance at 2-3, but Rybakina continued to look increasingly comfortable in the biggest moments. She held to make it 4-2 before breaking again, moving within one game of the championship at 5-2. The defending champion was now fighting against the scoreboard as much as Rybakina, who had regained the control she showed throughout the opening set and was serving with the same calm authority that had carried her through the tournament.

There was no late collapse this time. Rybakina held her nerve when the title was within reach, closing out a 6-2 deciding set to defeat Sabalenka and claim her third Grand Slam title. After winning the Australian Open earlier this year and Wimbledon in 2022, the Kazakh added the US Open crown to her collection in a final that also confirmed her arrival at the top of the women's game, having already secured the world No. 1 ranking.