Rybakina wins first US Open title and moves to top of rankings

Elena Rybakina has won her first US Open title, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the women’s singles final in New York.

The victory is Rybakina’s third Grand Slam title, following Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in January. She has won two of the four major singles tournaments held in 2026.

Rybakina entered the tournament managing a foot injury sustained during her quarter-final in Cincinnati last month. She told BBC Sport she had been unable to walk without pain and had not trained on court for a week before the US Open.

Despite losing the second set, Rybakina controlled the decider and finished with 12 aces, including one on match point. She had reached the final after defeating Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff.

Rybakina had already secured the top ranking by reaching the semi-finals and is expected to replace Sabalenka as world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday. Sabalenka had held the position for 99 weeks.

The title leaves Rybakina one major short of a career Grand Slam, with the French Open the only tournament missing from her collection.