Elena Rybakina capped a stunning run at the 2026 US Open by beating top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, claiming her third career Grand Slam title and rising to world No. 1 for the first time. The championship match came two days after Rybakina and Sabalenka each won dramatic three-set semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium, eliminating American favorites Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in front of sold-out New York crowds.

The women’s semifinals on Thursday featured all four of the tournament’s top seeds for just the second time since the Open era began in 1968, setting up a heavyweight final that lived up to the buildup. Rybakina’s win over Sabalenka not only earned her the trophy but also ended Sabalenka’s bid for a third straight US Open title.

What Happened in the Semifinals

In the first semifinal Thursday night, Sabalenka overcame a tight opening set to beat No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2, advancing to her fourth straight US Open final. The two players traded games deep into the first set before Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve at a crucial moment to avoid a tiebreak and take the opener, then pulled away in the second set.

The night’s second semifinal saw No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina defeat No. 4 seed Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that swung back and forth in front of a raucous home crowd cheering for the American. Gauff had reached the semifinals with a comeback win over No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals, and she pushed Rybakina to a deciding third set on Thursday, at one point battling back to even the score before Rybakina closed out the win.

The Championship Match

Rybakina carried her semifinal momentum into Saturday’s final, taking the first set 6-4 against Sabalenka. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, fought back to win the second set 7-5 and force a decider, but Rybakina regained control in the third set, breaking Sabalenka’s serve early and again to close out the match 6-2 and secure the title.

The win was Rybakina’s third career Grand Slam championship and her 10th career victory over a reigning world No. 1, according to tournament results. With the victory, Rybakina is set to become the new world No. 1 when the WTA rankings update, ending Sabalenka’s run at the top of the sport following a tournament in which the Belarusian star had been chasing a third consecutive US Open crown.

Why This Matters in American Tennis

The semifinal results marked a disappointing end to the tournament for the two American women who had reached the final four. Pegula, the No. 3 seed, fell short in her rematch with Sabalenka after also losing to her in the 2024 US Open final, while Gauff’s run ended one match short of a fourth Grand Slam final appearance of her career, despite a spirited comeback effort in the deciding set against Rybakina.

Even so, the tournament highlighted the continued depth of American women’s tennis, with Gauff and Pegula both reaching the final four of the year’s last Grand Slam event. Gauff arrived in New York in strong form after winning the Cincinnati Open over the summer, her first title of the season and the fourth WTA 1000-level title of her career, a run that carried into her deep run at Flushing Meadows.

Background on the Contenders

Rybakina entered the US Open having already won a major title this year, having captured the Australian Open in January, and she arrived at Flushing Meadows with strong recent form. Her win over Sabalenka in the final was her 10th career victory over a world No. 1 opponent, underscoring her record against the very best players in the sport even before this title.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, had been aiming to become the first woman since the 2010s to win three straight US Open titles, having won the previous two editions of the tournament. Her semifinal win over Pegula extended a head-to-head advantage in the rivalry, with Sabalenka having now won nine of their thirteen career meetings, though Saturday’s final ultimately went to Rybakina.

What Happens Next

With the women’s singles championship decided, attention at Flushing Meadows turns to the men’s singles final, scheduled for Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium to close out the 2026 US Open. The tournament, which began August 30, wraps up its two-week run with the men’s title match as the final event of the fortnight.

For the WTA Tour, Rybakina’s title and ascension to world No. 1 reshapes the rankings picture heading into the final stretch of the season, while Sabalenka, Gauff and Pegula will look to regroup as the tour moves toward its year-end events.