Elena Rybakina has caused Aryna Sabalenka enough pain over the past year. Now, she has a chance to deliver the biggest blow yet.
The two will meet in the US Open women’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, with Rybakina chasing her maiden title at Flushing Meadows and Sabalenka eyeing a historic three-peat.
There is far more than a Grand Slam trophy at stake. Rybakina has already ended Sabalenka’s long reign at the top of the WTA rankings and now has the opportunity to deny her one of the most significant achievements in modern tennis.
The Kazakh, who defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final, will also arrive with memories of several important battles against Sabalenka that have shaped their rivalry.
IT STARTED IN RIYADH
One of the most significant wins came at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Rybakina defeated the then-world No. 1 Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) in the final, producing an exceptional serving display. She fired 13 aces and won 56.2 per cent of the total points, compared to Sabalenka’s 43.8 per cent.
Rybakina’s ability to keep Sabalenka from generating consistent pressure on her serve proved decisive. She saved all five break points she faced and converted one of her six opportunities on the Sabalenka serve.
That win gave Rybakina an important psychological advantage heading into their next Grand Slam meeting.
RYBAKINA TAKES AUSTRALIAN OPEN REVENGE
Rybakina and Sabalenka met in the 2026 Australian Open final, almost exactly three years after their memorable 2023 championship match. Sabalenka had won that 2023 final to claim her maiden Grand Slam title, beating Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Three years later, Rybakina reversed the result.
She defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win her second Grand Slam title and complete a remarkable turnaround in their Australian Open rivalry.
The similarities between the two finals made the result even more striking. Both went to three sets, but this time Rybakina held her nerve when the match reached its decisive stages.
It was also a crucial victory against a player who had entered the final as the world No. 1 and was attempting to win her third Australian Open title.
Sabalenka did get some revenge later in the season. At Indian Wells, she defeated Rybakina in another dramatic final, winning the deciding-set tie-break 8-6 after saving a match point.
RYBAKINA SNATCHES SABALENKA’S NO. 1 RANKING
The stakes in New York are even higher because Rybakina has already taken something else away from Sabalenka: the world No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina secured the top spot by defeating Zheng Qinwen in the US Open quarter-finals. Her 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory guaranteed that she would become the 30th woman in WTA history to reach No. 1 when the rankings are updated after the tournament.
More importantly, she ended Sabalenka’s 107-week reign at the top. Rybakina is also the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach No. 1 in either men’s or women’s tennis.
That means the final will not decide who becomes world No. 1. Rybakina has already secured that milestone.
Her focus now shifts to the biggest prize of all.
A victory would mean Rybakina beats Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time this year and adds a maiden US Open crown to her Australian Open title.
RYBAKINA LOOKS TO SPOIL SABALENKA’S THREE-PEAT DREAM
Sabalenka, however, has plenty of reasons to believe she can stop Rybakina.
The Belarusian has been virtually unbeatable at Flushing Meadows over the past two years, since her defeat to Gauff in the 2023 final. Her 7-5, 6-2 semi-final victory over Jessica Pegula took her into a fourth consecutive US Open final.
A win on Saturday would make Sabalenka the first woman since Serena, who won from 2012 to 2014, to complete a US Open three-peat.
Her run to the final is also a dramatic response to a difficult stretch of the season.
Sabalenka’s last titles came during the Sunshine Double in March. She won Indian Wells and then defeated Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami final to become the fifth woman to complete the singles Sunshine Double.
In fact, Sabalenka had not reached another final between her Sunshine Double triumph and the US Open. Her campaign in New York has therefore been a major revival, culminating in a fourth straight final.
Now comes the ultimate test.
The head-to-head stands at 10-7 in Sabalenka’s favour, while their Grand Slam rivalry has already produced memorable finals.
For Rybakina, Saturday is a chance to turn a year of victories over Sabalenka into a defining statement. For Sabalenka, it is an opportunity to protect her Flushing Meadows kingdom and prevent her biggest rival from completing another painful chapter.
Either way, their latest meeting promises to be another heavyweight battle in one of the most compelling rivalries in women’s tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Head-to-Head
Overall
Matches – 17, Aryna Sabalenka – 10, Elena Rybakina – 7
In Grand Slams
Matches – 3, Aryna Sabalenka – 2, Elena Rybakina – 1
Road to the final
Aryna Sabalenka
- Round 1: Defeated Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4
- Round 2: Defeated Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1
- Round 3: Defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4
- Round 4: Defeated Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3
- Quarter-final: Defeated Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(10-7)
- Semi-final: Defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2
Elena Rybakina
- Round 1: Defeated Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2.
- Round 2: Defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4.
- Round 3: Defeated Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6(6), 6-3
- Round 4: Defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4
- Quarter-final: Defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
- Semi-final: Defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
When to watch the US Open 2026 women’s singles final?
The US Open 2026 women’s singles final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will not begin before 4:00 PM local time (September 12), 01:30 AM IST (September 13).
Where to watch the US Open 2026 semifinals?
Star Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the US Open 2026 women’s singles final. Live Streaming of the matches will be available on JioHotstar.
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