Score and how the match went
Rybakina took the first set 6-4, lost a nervy second-set tie-break 5-7, and closed out the match most convincingly in the decider - 6-2, dropping only three points on her own serve. It is Rybakina's first US Open title and her third straight win over Sabalenka in a decisive head-to-head match, following the 2025 WTA Finals and the 2026 Australian Open final.
| Set | Score |
|---|---|
| 1st set | 6-4 |
| 2nd set | 5-7 |
| 3rd set | 6-2 |
"It's tough to find the words right now. I didn't expect anything like this coming into this tournament," Rybakina said at the trophy ceremony. Sabalenka, playing her third straight US Open final, said: "I'm obviously not really happy with the level I played today, but she served incredible. She played really aggressive, great tennis. Yeah, she was simply a better player today than me."
Rybakina's road to the title
Through the first four rounds Rybakina did not drop a set, beating Thea Frodin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Yuliia Starodubtseva and Naomi Osaka. In the quarterfinal and the semifinal the same script played out twice - a lost first set followed by two sets won in a row: 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 against Zheng Qinwen and 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Coco Gauff. She did not lose a single match at the tournament after dropping the first set.
Beating Zheng before the semifinal had already guaranteed Rybakina the top of the world rankings: from the update of 14 September she became the first world No. 1 in Kazakhstan's history. The title made that climb to the top even more emphatic.
Sabalenka's road
Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed and the two-time defending US Open champion, having won New York in 2024 and 2025. In the semifinal she beat the third seed, Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-2. It was Rybakina who stopped her bid for a third straight New York title.
Head-to-head
After the final, the overall head-to-head stands at 10-8 in Sabalenka's favour. But in matches for the biggest trophies Rybakina leads 3-1: Sabalenka won Melbourne 2023, while the next three deciding matches in a row - the 2025 WTA Finals, Melbourne 2026 and now the 2026 US Open - all went to Rybakina. That streak became the foundation of her rise to No. 1.
| Event | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open 2023 | Final | Sabalenka | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| WTA Finals 2025 | Final | Rybakina | 6-3, 7-6(0) |
| Australian Open 2026 | Final | Rybakina | 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| Indian Wells 2026 | Final | Sabalenka | deciding-set tie-break |
| Miami 2026 | Semifinal | Sabalenka | 6-4, 6-3 |
| US Open 2026 | Final | Rybakina | 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 |
Scores are shown from the winner's side. The full history of the rivalry is on the Rybakina vs Sabalenka page.
What it means
- For Rybakina - a third Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022 and the 2026 Australian Open, and her first US Open. She is the first player from Kazakhstan to win the US Open singles title.
- Prize money. The 2026 US Open women's champion earned $5.5 million - the largest single prize in Grand Slam history.
- Ranking. With the WTA update of 14 September, Rybakina officially took over as world No. 1, ending Sabalenka's 99-week run at the top.
What's next
Next on the calendar is the Asian swing: the China Open in Beijing starts on 30 September, in October Rybakina defends her title in Ningbo, and in November she defends the WTA Finals title - an event that has moved to Indian Wells this year. The full calendar and entry statuses are on the match schedule page.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the 2026 US Open final between Rybakina and Sabalenka?
Elena Rybakina won 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
What is the Rybakina-Sabalenka head-to-head after this final?
10-8 in Sabalenka's favour overall. But Rybakina leads 3-1 in Grand Slam and WTA Finals title matches, having won the last three deciding matches in a row.
Did Rybakina become world No. 1 because of this final win?
No, that was already decided before the final: the WTA No. 1 ranking was guaranteed to her from the update of 14 September regardless of the result.
Which Grand Slam title is this for Rybakina?
Her third, after Wimbledon 2022 and the 2026 Australian Open. It is her first US Open title.