The women's singles title at the US Open has changed hands. Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final match with a score of 6:4, 5:7, 6:2, claiming her third Grand Slam trophy in her career. The decisive match between the world's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds stretched across three sets and became the headline event of the 2026 tennis season in New York.
Final chronology: from a single break to a 41-minute deciding set
Rybakina took the first set 6:4, relying on a single break in the fifth game and a minimal number of unforced errors. Sabalenka answered in the second set, leveling the chances only in the closing stages and closing it in her favor 7:5. The fate of the title was decided in the third set, which lasted 41 minutes: the Kazakhstani fully seized the initiative, hitting five aces and 15 winners. Converting two break points, Rybakina confidently saw the match through to victory.
Third "major" and Steffi Graf's record
This success gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam title in her career, following her wins at Wimbledon 2022 and the Australian Open 2026. In addition, the player repeated the unique record of the legendary Steffi Graf from 1995, becoming the second player in the Open Era to defeat the world No. 1 in Grand Slam finals more than once in a single season. For Rybakina herself, this is also her first title at the US Open in her career.
The end of Sabalenka's 99-week dominance
Thanks to her run to the final and ultimate triumph in New York, Rybakina officially climbs to the top of the WTA world rankings. She ended Sabalenka's dominance, which had lasted 99 consecutive weeks, and will become the world No. 1 for the first time in her career. Thus, women's tennis is seeing a change of leader after a nearly two-year period of absolute supremacy by the Belarusian player.
Tournament context: men's final and prize money
It was previously announced that in the men's singles draw of the US Open 2026, the title will be contested by Shelton and Zverev. The tournament's prize fund in 2026 once again set a record for the Grand Slam series, and the women's singles winner received the maximum prize money for reaching the final and winning. According to Championat.com, the financial figures for the US Open 2026 confirm the steady growth of revenues in professional tennis.
