January 1, New Tennis Queen Crowned After EPIC Three-Set Battle

Wyatt’s Take

• Elena Rybakina just ended Aryna Sabalenka’s two-year reign at the U.S. Open, winning in a grueling three-set showdown that had everything — drama, momentum swings, and a new world No. 1.
• Sabalenka was gunning for history, trying to match Serena Williams’ three straight U.S. Open titles, but Rybakina had other plans and came back from losing the second set to dominate the finale.
• This wasn’t just about a trophy — it was about proving who runs women’s tennis now, and Rybakina made it crystal clear she’s the one to beat.

Elena Rybakina moved one step closer to completing a career Grand Slam Saturday, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her first U.S. Open title. The victory wasn’t just symbolic — it was a complete changing of the guard in women’s tennis.

Rybakina had already been guaranteed to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 in the women’s tennis world rankings next week, but she did more than inherit the top spot. She claimed the title Sabalenka had won the previous two years, making the transition official and emphatic.

Rybakina was still processing the special moment afterward.

“It’s tough to find words right now, honestly. I don’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing with a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”

Rybakina won the Australian Open title earlier this year after defeating Sabalenka on another hard court, this time at Melbourne Park. The pattern is clear — when these two meet on hard courts in major finals, Rybakina has Sabalenka’s number.

Sabalenka entered Saturday’s final with a 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open, where she had not lost since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final. Sabalenka was trying to become the first person since Serena Williams from 2012-14 to win three in a row at Flushing Meadows.

That dream died in the third set as Rybakina turned up the heat and left no doubt who deserved the trophy.

“I really felt like home here and cannot wait to come back next year. I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year.”

Saturday marked the third U.S. Open women’s final since 2000 between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, and the first won by the No. 2 seed. Serena Williams was the top seed in the other two, defeating her sister Venus in 2002 and Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

Rybakina was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan. She won her first major title at Wimbledon in 2022. A win at the French Open would complete a career Grand Slam for the 27-year-old.

Rybakina did show some frustration after pulling a backhand wide with a break point in the opening game of the third set, but soon she had taken charge of the match for good. Once she found her rhythm, Sabalenka had no answers.

Sabalenka had won the two other meetings this season, on the hard courts at Indian Wells and Miami, and leads their rivalry 10-8. But when it mattered most — on the biggest stage — Rybakina delivered twice this year in Grand Slam finals.

American Ben Shelton meets German tennis star Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s men’s singles final.

Wyatt Matters

This is what competition looks like when politics stays out of it — pure talent, grit, and determination deciding who comes out on top. Rybakina fought through injury, beat the defending champ twice this year, and earned every bit of that No. 1 ranking. That’s the kind of merit-based success hardworking Americans respect — no shortcuts, no excuses, just results. Women’s tennis just got a lot more interesting.