Elena Rybakina won the US Open title this Saturday by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6/4, 5/7 and 6/2, in 2h21 of match play, in New York. At the Australian Open in January, the Kazakh had also beaten the Belarusian in a Grand Slam final played in three sets. Rybakina also took over the world number one position, surpassing Sabalenka.
At 27 years old, Rybakina won the third Grand Slam title of her career and the 14th title on the WTA Tour. A Wimbledon champion in 2022, she joined the exclusive group of players who reached the Australian Open and US Open finals in the same season and, alongside Angelique Kerber and Sabalenka, won both tournaments in the same year.
Sabalenka lost the chance to win the US Open for the third consecutive time and match the achievements of Chris Evert and Serena Williams, the only women to achieve three or more consecutive titles on the American hard courts.
In the final, Rybakina quickly took the lead in the first set. Sabalenka reacted in the second set, saved break-points and managed the comeback. However, the Kazakh dominated the third set and confirmed the title.
