Start time and where to watch
The 2026 US Open women's final is on Saturday, 12 September, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. New York time. For fans in Kazakhstan that means the night from Saturday into Sunday: the first serve comes at 1:00 a.m. on 13 September in Astana.
| City | Start of the final |
|---|---|
| New York | 12 September, 4:00 p.m. |
| London | 12 September, 9:00 p.m. |
| Moscow | 12 September, 11:00 p.m. |
| Astana and Almaty | 13 September, 1:00 a.m. |
Legal broadcasters for Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries are listed on the where to watch page. So you do not sleep through a night final, subscribe to the match calendar: the reminder arrives 30 minutes before the start.
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Rybakina's road to the final
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.
Beating Zheng before the semifinal guaranteed Rybakina the top of the world rankings: from the update of 14 September she becomes the first world No. 1 in Kazakhstan's history. Before this year her best in New York was the fourth round.
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 the first time since 1975 that the top four seeds all reached the US Open semifinals, and the final brings together the first and second seeds.
Head-to-head
Going into the final, Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 10–7. In Grand Slam and WTA Finals title matches, though, Rybakina is ahead 2–1: Sabalenka won Melbourne 2023, Rybakina the 2025 WTA Finals and Melbourne 2026. Their most recent final, at Indian Wells in March 2026, went to Sabalenka in a deciding-set tie-break.
| 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 |
Scores are shown from the winner's side. The full history of the rivalry is on the Rybakina vs Sabalenka page.
What is at stake
- For Rybakina - a third Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022 and the 2026 Australian Open, and her first US Open. No player from Kazakhstan has yet won the US Open singles title.
- For Sabalenka - a third US Open title in a row.
- Ranking. Rybakina takes over as WTA world No. 1 with the update of 14 September whatever the result, so the final is about the trophy, not the ranking.
Keys to the match
This is a final between two first-strike players, and long rallies will be the exception. Serve and return will decide it: who lands more first serves, and who punishes the other's second serve more often. On New York's quick hard courts a single break can settle a set, so every point on serve weighs more than it did in the early rounds.
The second factor is the start. Rybakina lost the first set twice at this tournament and won both times, but coming back against Sabalenka is harder: she too can close out sets with runs of games. The third factor is tie-breaks - their last final was decided in a deciding-set tie-break.
After the final
The final score will appear on this page and in the news feed once official sources confirm it. 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.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the 2026 US Open final in Astana?
At 1:00 a.m. on 13 September. That is 4:00 p.m. on 12 September in New York and 9:00 p.m. on 12 September in London.
What is the Rybakina–Sabalenka head-to-head?
Sabalenka leads 10–7 going into the 2026 US Open final. In 2026 they have already met in the Australian Open final (won by Rybakina) and the Indian Wells final (won by Sabalenka).
Will Rybakina become world No. 1 if she loses the final?
Yes. The WTA No. 1 ranking is guaranteed to her from the update of 14 September whatever happens in the final.
Where can I watch the 2026 US Open final?
The list of legal broadcasters for Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries is on the where to watch page.