Rybakina Stops Sabalenka's Three-Peat to Claim the US Open

Elena Rybakina beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 to win the 2026 US Open women's singles title in New York — her third Grand Slam title and 14th WTA title. How the final unfolded and what the win means.

Elena Rybakina at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. She won her third major title at the US Open. Photo: danielcooper850, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

By the UISC BD Editorial Desk · United Information Service Center · Published 13 September 2026 · 3-minute read

The Result

Champion: Elena Rybakina.
Runner-up: Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion.
Score: 6–4, 5–7, 6–2.
Milestones: Rybakina's third major title and 14th career WTA Tour title.

How the Final Unfolded

Rybakina took the first set 6–4. Sabalenka, chasing a third straight US Open title, fought back to win the second set 7–5 and force a decider. Rybakina then pulled clear in the third, taking it 6–2 to close out the championship.

Why It Matters

A stopped three-peat. Sabalenka arrived in New York as the champion of the last two editions. Beating the defending champion in a final is one of the hardest tasks in tennis.

A statement of consistency. A third Grand Slam title places Rybakina firmly among the leading players of her generation.

An unexpected run. ESPN described the title as "against the odds", making the victory all the more memorable for her supporters.

About the US Open

The US Open is the last of tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments each season. It is played on hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, with the finals staged in Arthur Ashe Stadium — the largest tennis stadium in the world. Winning there requires seven matches over two weeks against the best players in the sport.

A Great Final for the Sport

A three-set final between two of the most powerful hitters in women's tennis delivered exactly what fans hope for from a Grand Slam decider — and it reflects the depth at the top of the women's game.

The Men's Final

The men's singles final between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton was scheduled for Sunday 13 September at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a first-time men's major champion guaranteed.

More sport this week: the NFL's historic first game in Australia, Kimi Antonelli's Monza victory and Champions League matchday one.

Sources

"2026 US Open — women's singles," Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
"Against the odds: Elena Rybakina's unexpected US Open title," ESPN — espn.com
"US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina dethrones Aryna Sabalenka in thrilling final," Deccan Herald — deccanherald.com
"Alexander Zverev vs Ben Shelton: US Open men's singles final — all to know," Al Jazeera — aljazeera.com

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Elena Rybakina Wins the 2026 US Open, Ending Sabalenka's Title Run