--- title: "Rybakina Dethrones Sabalenka: Kazakhstani Wins US Open 2026 and Becomes World No. 1" description: "Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open 2026 final (6:4, 5:7, 6:2), claimed her third Grand Slam title, and became the world No. 1 for the first time, ending her opponent's 99-week dominance." date: 2026-09-13T08:38:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rybakina-us-open-2026-world-no-1 tags: [us-open-2026, elena-rybakina, aryna-sobolenka, wta, tennis, grand-slam, world-number-one] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Rybakina Dethrones Sabalenka: Kazakhstani Wins US Open 2026 and Becomes World No. 1 ![Elena Rybakina lifts the US Open 2026 trophy after defeating Elina Svitolina in the final](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/13/rybakina-us-open-2026-pervaya-raketka-mira/rybakina-us-open-2026-pervaya-raketka-mira-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Rybakina defeated Sabalenka 6:4, 5:7, 6:2 in the US Open 2026 final - This is the Kazakhstani's third Grand Slam title in her career and her first at the US Open - Rybakina repeated Steffi Graf's 1995 record for defeating the world No. 1 in major finals more than once in a season - Sabalenka lost her world No. 1 status after 99 weeks at the top of the WTA rankings 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. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Sabalenka's complete collapse: Rybakina takes the US Open title and the world No. 1 status (video)](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/tennis/povniy-krah-sobolenko-ribakina-vidibrala-1789288424.html) - Основной источник. Подтверждает счёт 6:4, 5:7, 6:2, третий мейджор, рекорд Граф, 99 недель Соболенко, первый титул US Open для Рыбакиной. - [US Open 2026 prize money: how much Elena Rybakina earned for the title, Aryna Sabalenka for the final ...](https://www.championat.com/tennis/article-6618724-prizovye-na-us-open-2026-skolko-zarabotala-elena-rybakina-za-titul-arina-sobolenko-za-final-dengi-rekordy-statistika.html) - Подтверждает контекст призовых и финансовую сторону турнира US Open-2026. - [Live online broadcast of the US Open 2026 final: Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Anna Pushkarieva ...](https://www.championat.com/tennis/article-6617770-pryamaya-onlajn-translyaciya-finala-us-open-2026-arina-sobolenko-elena-rybakina-anna-pushkaryova-setka-raspisanie-gde-smotret.html) - Подтверждает контекст призовых и финансовую сторону турнира US Open-2026. - [Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka and wins her first US Open queen title](https://www.sportmk.ru/sports/2026/09/13/rybakina-svergla-sobolenko-s-trona-i-zavoevala-svoy-pervyy-titul-korolevy-us-open.html) - Подтверждает, что для Рыбакиной это первый титул US Open, а также факт смены первой ракетки мира. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What was the score in the US Open 2026 final between Rybakina and Sabalenka? **A:** Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6:4, 5:7, 6:2. The decisive third set lasted 41 minutes. ### Q: How many Grand Slam titles does Elena Rybakina have after the US Open 2026? **A:** Three: Wimbledon 2022, the Australian Open 2026, and the US Open 2026. ### Q: What happened to Sabalenka's ranking after the final? **A:** Aryna Sabalenka lost her world No. 1 status, which she had held for 99 consecutive weeks. Elena Rybakina climbed to the top of the WTA rankings. ### Q: What record did Rybakina repeat? **A:** She became the second player in the Open Era after Steffi Graf (1995) to defeat the world No. 1 in Grand Slam finals more than once in a single season.