Preview US Open WTA Final | Sabalenka chases history as Rybakina seeks another Grand Slam
WTASaturday, 12 September 2026 at 10:16
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the US Open 2026 final on Saturday at Flushing Meadows, with the Grand Slam title and several major storylines on the line. The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka reached the championship match after beating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2, while Rybakina came from a set down to defeat 2023 champion Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
For Sabalenka, the final represents an opportunity to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open titles. The Belarusian has already won the tournament in 2024 and 2025, while her run to another Grand Slam final has extended an extraordinary hard-court streak.
Rybakina, meanwhile, arrives with the confidence of having already beaten Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final this season. She defeated her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open final in Melbourne, although Sabalenka has won their other two meetings in 2026, including the Indian Wells final and Miami semifinal.
The final will also have a major ranking consequence. Rybakina will become the No. 1-ranked WTA player on Monday regardless of the result, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign at the top of the rankings.
Aryna Sabalenka seeks a historic US Open three-peat
Sabalenka, 28, entered the US Open after a relatively quiet period by her standards, with her appearance in New York marking her first tournament final since winning the Miami Open in March. She has nevertheless produced her strongest tennis of the season at exactly the right moment, reaching the final without dropping a set in her semifinal against Pegula.
Her 7-5, 6-2 victory over the top-ranked American was particularly convincing. Pegula described it as probably the best match Sabalenka had played in 2026, highlighting the level of pressure the Belarusian generated throughout the contest. That performance completed a run through Camila Osorio, Polina Iatcenko, Kamilla Rakhimova, Taylor Townsend, Linda Noskova and Pegula.
ARYNA SABALENKA during the match against Taylor Townsend of USA in the fourth round of Grand Slam tournament US Open
Sabalenka is also chasing a piece of US Open history. She has already captured the title in 2024 and 2025, and another victory would make her the first player since Serena Williams, who won three straight from 2012 through 2014, to complete a women's singles three-peat in New York.
Her broader Grand Slam record adds further weight to the occasion. Sabalenka has won four major titles, with two Australian Open crowns in 2023 and 2024 followed by her two US Open championships. She has now reached at least eight consecutive Grand Slam finals on hard courts, becoming the first woman or man in the Open Era to achieve that feat.
Sabalenka's path to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Camila Osorio | 6-2, 6-3 |
| R2 | Polina Iatcenko | 6-1, 6-1 |
| R3 | Kamilla Rakhimova | 6-3, 6-4 |
| R4 | Taylor Townsend | 6-4, 6-3 |
| QF | Linda Noskova | 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 |
| SF | Jessica Pegula | 7-5, 6-2 |
| F | Elena Rybakina | TBD |
Elena Rybakina looks to repeat Australian Open upset
Rybakina, 27, arrives in the final having navigated both a difficult draw and concerns surrounding her fitness. She suffered a left ankle injury at the Cincinnati Open in August, but has subsequently put together a deep run in New York while producing the level required to reach another Grand Slam final.
The Kazakh began her campaign against Thea Frodin before overcoming Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Yulia Starodubtseva, Naomi Osaka, Qinwen Zheng and Gauff. Her semifinal against the 2023 champion was particularly significant, as she recovered from losing the opening set before taking control of the contest and silencing a largely pro-Gauff crowd.
Elena Rybakina Vs Naomi Osaka in Louis Armstrong Stadium during The US Open
Rybakina's biggest advantage entering Saturday is that she has already beaten Sabalenka in the biggest match between them this year. Their Australian Open final lasted three sets, with Rybakina winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 after recovering from a 3-0 deficit in the deciding set.
However, Sabalenka responded emphatically in their next two meetings. She defeated Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 in the Miami semifinals before edging her 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the Indian Wells final, giving her two victories in their three encounters this season.
Rybakina's path to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Thea Frodin | 6-3, 6-2 |
| R2 | Jessica Bouzas Maneiro | 6-2, 6-4 |
| R3 | Yulia Starodubtseva | 7-6, 6-3 |
| R4 | Naomi Osaka | 6-1, 6-4 |
| QF | Qinwen Zheng | 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| SF | Coco Gauff | 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| F | Aryna Sabalenka | TBD |
Sabalenka vs Rybakina: an 18th meeting with the No. 1 ranking already decided
Saturday will be the 18th career meeting between Sabalenka and Rybakina, with Sabalenka holding a 10-7 head-to-head advantage. Their rivalry has increasingly been defined by major occasions, and this will be their third Grand Slam final against each other.
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Rybakina won their first Grand Slam final of 2026 at the Australian Open, while Sabalenka had previously defeated her in the 2023 Australian Open final. Their three encounters this season have therefore produced two Sabalenka wins and one Rybakina victory, with each player owning a significant Grand Slam success over the other.
The stakes extend beyond the trophy. Sabalenka is attempting to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams among the women to win three consecutive US Open titles, while Rybakina is guaranteed to take over as world No. 1 after the tournament. With their rivalry tied to multiple Grand Slam finals and the 18th meeting now set, the US Open title will provide the definitive chapter of their 2026 series.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- Big Babe Tennis! Hoping for a good final.DaveyWavey12-09-2026
- Director needs to return to his old "job" at the Australia Open. He's clueless in NYC.
mandoist12-09-2026 - You keep writing ridiculous crap... why are you even watching tennis?mandoist12-09-2026
- They probably have a very good reason for this. I do not get it. Annoying that it finishes so late
AceOfBase12-09-2026 - I hope he wins. Would be great to have a USA winner again with the men.AceOfBase12-09-2026
- I love WTA matches. Seek them out as much as possible on youtube and other platforms I already subscribe to. With that in mind, I do not wish to pay $$$ to a notoriously slippery subscription conglomerate sports broadcaster (like SkySports) just for the privilege to watch it and the tnt/eurosport/discovery subscription went from $$ to $$$+ annually in a blink of an eye. With ATP I have been begrudgingly paying xyz tennis only channel and try to catch up on slams elsewhere (pubs, youtube with USO later on games are just as enjoyable to watch and a smart move to upload on their official channel) but they don't cover WTA. I tried another Tennis dedicated channel that advertised originally as broadcasting where I live, but turned out, they took the money, but didn't cover the matches (only fluff/filler value documentaries). I don't understand why it is so hard to not lock the live matches to one broadcaster only refusing so many people who are happy to pay for the privilege just not through that one entry point. WTA is so exciting for the last few years and they really should capitalise on it as much as possible. And I know it is somewhat naive talking without knowing the inner works, but not being able to find any WTA other than youtube (and then only highlights mostly) is just so frustrating.JayJay11-09-2026
- Clearly not AI :-)AceOfBase11-09-2026
- Oh my God!! Does anyone proofread these pages??? Case in point: However, the question mark over the 32-years-old head......???? No! No! No! However, the question mark over the 32-year-old's head...good grief man, hire a proofreader. This article is rife with errors making some sentences very difficult to read. I had to stop. I am a proofreader hence my disgust.Rapunzel10-09-2026
- Iga needs to make a decision whether she wants to continue the sport of tennis or pursue whatever she has going on in her personal life. One can tell that tennis is no longer an interest of hers. She should retire while she is on top, not when she slides to the bottom of the rankings. She has too much talent to look how she does on the court these days. She looks more like a wild card than a champion.crissy09-09-2026
- Looks like tennis has become a part of the American Oligarchy. As usual, Pegula is given a cupcake draw. With all her money, they have to fixed the draws in her favor in order to raised the trophy.crissy09-09-2026
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