New York: Elena Rybakina captured her maiden US Open title on Saturday after defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a gripping women’s singles final at Flushing Meadows.

The victory gave the 27-year-old Kazakh her third Grand Slam singles title, adding the US Open crown to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph and the Australian Open title she won earlier this year.

Rybakina also ended Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows, denying the Belarusian the chance to become the first woman since Serena Williams, who won from 2012 to 2014, to claim three consecutive US Open singles titles.

The triumph capped an outstanding tournament for Rybakina, who had already secured the World No. 1 ranking ahead of the final. Her rise ends Sabalenka’s 99-week stay at the top of the women’s rankings.

Despite landing fewer than half of her first serves during the final, Rybakina repeatedly put Sabalenka under pressure with her powerful return game. She created 12 break-point opportunities and converted three of them, taking control in the deciding set to seal the biggest title of her season.

After taking the opening set 6-4, Rybakina was pushed into a decider when Sabalenka fought back to claim the second 7-5. But the Kazakh responded emphatically, breaking clear in the final set before closing out the match 6-2.

The victory also made Rybakina only the third woman this century to win both hard-court Grand Slam titles in the same season, following Angelique Kerber and Sabalenka.

Rybakina collected $5.5 million in prize money, the largest singles champion’s payout in Grand Slam history, while Sabalenka received $2.8 million as runner-up. The 2026 US Open offered a record $108 million in total player compensation.

For Sabalenka, the defeat brought an end to her bid for a historic New York three-peat. For Rybakina, however, the night marked another major milestone in a career that now features Grand Slam titles on grass and hard courts and, for the first time, the world No. 1 ranking.