How Elena Rybakina Conquered the US Open: Poker Face, Heavy Serve, and World No. 1 Glory

The Road to Number One and Flushing Meadows Glory

Entering the final Grand Slam of the season, the WTA rankings battle dominated headlines as Aryna Sabalenková defended a 99-week grip on the top spot. Rybakinová accepted the challenge despite arriving in New York managing a minor injury. “When I came to this tournament, I didn’t expect anything like this,” Rybakinová said regarding her physical state and the ranking stakes. “I was struggling with a small injury. But somehow everything came together.” Throughout the fortnight, the player from Kazakhstan largely flew under the radar before seizing the top position.

Her path to the trophy demanded resilience through three consecutive three-set battles starting in the quarterfinals. That triumph guaranteed her ascension to the number one ranking for the first time in her career. “I was very nervous, I didn’t play my best, but all the more I’m glad I managed it. I am proud of myself,” Rybakinová admitted after sealing the comeback.

Overcoming Gauff and the New York Crowd

The semifinal test placed Rybakinová opposite Coco Gauff and a partisan home crowd inside the main arena. Following another dropped opening set, the player from Kazakhstan steadied her rhythm by finding depth on her serve. During the deciding third set, Rybakinová connected on 87% of her first serves while neutralizing Gauff’s defense to claim a 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 win. “It was such a tight third set. But I feel like I had a little bit of luck on her serve,” Rybakinová noted after eliminating the last remaining American player in the singles draw.

A Clinical Final Against Sabalenková

The championship match pitted Rybakinová’s trademark poker face against Sabalenková’s emotional, high-risk style. After splitting the first two sets, Rybakinová capitalized on her opponent’s impatience during the third, earning two crucial breaks to close out a 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 decision. The victory marked Rybakinová’s tenth career win against a reigning world number one, placing her alongside elite historical company like Steffi Graf and Serena Williams in head-to-head success against top-ranked players.

The defeat left Sabalenková visibly frustrated after missing out on a third New York title, culminating in a broken racket during the post-match ceremonies as reported by iDNES.cz. For Rybakinová, the triumph represents her third career Grand Slam title, following victories at Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier in January 2026. Official records confirm she is the first player in the Open Era to claim her first three major singles titles entirely through three-set matches.