Svetlana Kuznetsova raves about US Open trophy presentation on special 20-year anniversary: “It’s really quite symbolic that Maria presented the trophy"

Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was among the tennis fans watching on as Maria Sharapova handed Elena Rybakina the US Open trophy after her splendid three-set win over the two-time reigning winner Aryna Sabalenka. The Russian described it as 'symbolic' 20 years after Sharapova had won her first and only title at Flushing Meadows.

The final of the women's US Open was a truly special occasion with the best players in the world locking horns in a wonderful match of tennis. After falling behind, Sabalenka dug deep to claw her way back into it. She may have already lost the World No.1 ranking, but the title was still in her sight.

That would not be for much longer as Rybakina turned on the afterburners, sprinting to glory in a fine third set showing to leave Sabalenka frustrated and glum, while Rybakina was overjoyed and elated to add a third major title to her growing collection.

At the trophy ceremony, something very special was planned. Sharapova was the person who had the responsibility of handing over the trophy to the winner; in this case it was Rybakina. This was planned to mark the 20th anniversary of Sharapova's triumph in New York.

The five-time Grand Slam champion defeated Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 to claim the crown. It was the only final she ever made at Flushing Meadows but was sure to make it count.

Two years earlier, Kuznetsova got the better of fellow countrywoman Elena Dementieva, also in straight sets, for the first of two Grand Slam titles in her career. The 41-year-old was in awe of Sharapova presenting the trophy to Rybakina, handing down the gauntlet from one generation to another.

“It’s really quite symbolic that Maria presented the trophy to Elena Rybakina exactly 20 years after her own US Open triumph in 2006," Kuznetsova wrote on Telegram.

"And I really liked Lena’s reaction. She said that she had never really spoken to Maria before and had never even thought that one day they would have a conversation like that. It was a special moment for her because when Maria was playing and winning big tournaments, Lena was watching her on television."

It was a great moment between the two tennis players. “I love moments like that in sport. When athletes who have already achieved greatness themselves show so much respect for legends from the previous generation. There is something beautiful about that continuity between eras."

After having her US Open thrown into doubt due to an achilles injury picked up in the Cincinnati Open, there were doubts about Rybakina's health coming into the event. Nevertheless, she managed to find her A-game and even grinded out a number of wins near the end to secure the title, winning her quarter-final and semi-final from a set down.

She was supposed to play in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for Kazakhstan, but a recovery period coincides with the tournament and has forced her to miss the event in Shenzhen. She, along with Sabalenka, will be back in action at the China Open, closely followed by the Wuhan Open with the WTA Finals the big showpiece event to end the year in California.