Elena Rybakina Seals WTA Finals Ticket as World No. 1 and US Open Champion
Nearly a decade ago, Elena Rybakina was weighing university offers in the United States when the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation stepped in with an offer to fund her professional ambitions. On Saturday last week, that gamble yielded the ultimate return inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as the 27-year-old defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to capture her maiden US Open title.
The victory capped off a career-defining stretch for Rybakina, who locked up the WTA World No. 1 ranking prior to her semifinal match and became the first singles player to officially qualify for the 2026 WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
“Actually I didn’t even realize that I also qualified,” Rybakina revealed. “It feels amazing, and the achievement of becoming No. 1 at first was so stressful. Now, also winning the title here, it’s tough to believe, and I still need a couple of days.”
A Steady Ascent to the Top
Rybakina’s rise to the apex of women’s tennis gathered irresistible momentum last autumn in Ningbo, where a late title run secured her a spot in the season-ending championships. She capitalized by winning the year-end title and carried that dominance into 2026, capturing major trophies at the Australian Open, Stuttgart, and now Flushing Meadows, alongside final runs in Indian Wells and Toronto.
By the time she reached New York, Rybakina had closed the gap on Sabalenka, who had held the World No. 1 ranking for 99 consecutive weeks. Becoming the 30th World No. 1 in WTA history just days before taking the court for the final, Rybakina’s performance against Sabalenka proved her status is beyond debate.
“From today’s match, yes, I can confidently say that today was a very good match in the level of focus I kept,” Rybakina noted. “Of course, we’re all humans, we make mistakes, but today, it was really a great match for my side, especially against such a tough, experienced opponent. Aryna likes this place a lot, she won so many times, but I feel right now is definitely my best tennis.”
Inspiring Kazakhstan and Leaving a Legacy
Beyond her personal milestones, Rybakina’s triumph marks a historic watershed for Kazakhstani tennis. The three-time Grand Slam champion remains deeply aware of the growing interest in tennis across her home country, where young players now flood newly built facilities.
“I want to share this moment with all the people in Kazakhstan who supported, who watched,” she said in press. “Especially kids. I always say there are so many kids that are coming to the tennis facilities. They all want to play tennis, which is a great thing. [I just want to] celebrate such an achievement for the country all together.”
Receiving the US Open trophy from former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova on stage added a surreal touch to her victory photoshoot inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I talked to Maria for the first time today, actually,” Rybakina said. “I felt so much energy coming from her, and she’s just someone that I was watching on TV when she used to play and win big titles. It was a special moment to talk with her.”
Eyeing the Career Grand Slam
Even with three major titles and the top ranking secured, Rybakina remains hungry for more, explicitly setting her sights on completing a Career Grand Slam in the years ahead.
“I’m super happy that, for now, I won three different Grand Slams,” Rybakina reflected. “I think that’s a really cool thing and difficult to achieve. For the future, I would like to win French Open to make it four of them.”
“The goal is always the biggest tournaments — you want to win them… We will see what’s going to happen, but it’s still a lot of work to do. The job’s never done, to be honest.”
As the defending champion preparing for her fourth straight WTA Finals appearance—this time in the California desert—Rybakina leaves New York at the summit of the sport, with her focus fixed firmly on the work ahead.
