Elena Rybakina advances as WTA world number one race continues at US Open

Elena Rybakina well and truly solidified herself as the best player on the WTA Tour in Saturday’s US Open women’s singles final. After knocking Aryna...

Elena Rybakina was going to see her name on top of the women's tennis rankings Monday no matter what happened in the U.S. Open final. Rybakina was too good for Sabalenka and anyone else in the sport right now, so her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory Sunday triggered a dual celebration.

Elena Rybakina beats the two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first US Open and her third Grand Slam title overall.

Elena Rybakina is the new champion of the US Open after a thrilling final victory over Aryna Sabalenka. Shortly after overtaking the Belarusian as WTA...

Elena Rybakina had to regroup after losing the second set to Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final. Rybakina beat Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to...

Elena Rybakina won her first U.S. Open title and punctuated her climb to the top of women’s tennis by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday. Rybakina had already been guaranteed to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 in the rankings next week and for good …

Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of a three-peat at the US Open was put to bed by Elena Rybakina in the championship match. Inside a packed Arthur...

Elena Rybakina is the new US Open champion, having dismantled Aryna Sabalenka in the final with alarming precision. Aside from a brief lapse in concentration...

Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending U.S. Open champion, was dethroned Saturday, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending U.S. Open champion, was dethroned Saturday, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets.

Rybakina wins 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 despite first-serve problems Overcomes top seed and two-time defending champion Even when long established as a grand slam champion and a conqueror of all surfaces, Elena Rybakina was always considered lesser than the most successful players of her era. She was one of the most devastating shotmakers in the world, a threat to everybody everywhere, but there were always a couple of more consistent and mentally tougher players above her. She leaves New York, finally, as the undisputed best tennis player on the planet, the new standard bearer of women’s tennis, after following up her snatching of the No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka by succeeding her as the US Open champion. As she has done throughout this unforgettable week, the Kazakhstani showed her toughness in another spectacular tussle with her great rival, closing out her time at Flushing Meadows with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion. Continue reading...

Women’s final updates from 9pm BST Finalists resume epic rivalry after switch at No 1 | Email Katy After an A+++ women’s tournament, in which we’ve seen so many must-watch matches (take your pick between this, this, this, this or this), captivating comebacks (much respect to Zheng Qinwen) and the top seeds eventually asserting their authority, it seems fitting that it all ends here: Aryna Sabalenka v Elena Rybakina, the world No 1 for the past 99 weeks v the player who will replace her at the top of the rankings on Monday. When these two are at their best no one else on tour can live with them – well, apart from peak Iga Swiatek – though it’s been a while since we’ve seen that version of the Pole at the grand slams. But, up until this tournament, it had been a while since we’d seen the best version of Sabalenka too. Having not claimed a slam title this year or reached a final since she won Miami in March, amid a series of defeats to much lower-ranked players during the summer, the two-time defending US Open champion has rediscovered her form this fortnight, gaining momentum and equilibrium as the rounds have gone by. She looks intent on salvaging her slam season In New York – as she did last year too – and losing her No 1 ranking will no doubt make her even more determined to prove a point today, while Rybakina will be full of confidence and feeling on top of the world, quite literally, after scaling the summit for the first time in her career. Continue reading...

NEW YORK — Women’s tennis has a new world No. 1 — but she is not satisfied with just the pinnacle of the sport this week in New York. Elena Rybakina took the top spot from Aryna Sabalenka Wednesday at the U.S. Open, with a quarterfinal win over China’s Zheng Qinwen, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Three days later, Rybakina will face Sabalenka on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the final, with the chance to wrestle the trophy she has held the past two years away from her, too. Born in Moscow but representing Kazakhstan —

Elena Rybakina will be the new world number one on Monday, regardless of what happens in the US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka. But does...

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 U.S. Open women’s semifinals NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina will take over the No.1 ranking come Monday no matter how she performs at this U.S. Open. But the 27-year-old who plays for Kazakhstan has been mighty clear for all 36-odd hours she’s occupied tennis’s top spot: the number next to her name is a nice achievement. What she really cares about is collecting titles. Rybakina will have a chance to win her second Grand Slam title of the year and back up th

Follow The Athletic’s U.S. Open coverage Welcome to the U.S. Open briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament. On Day 9, a big move at the top of the women’s game, two epic men’s matches and some surprising doubles drama. What took Elena Rybakina to the cusp of a career milestone? For someone who didn’t play the entire week before showing up at the U.S. Open, Elena Rybakina should be ecstatic with her results. The No. 2 seed beat Naomi O

While Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Aryna Sabalenka continue their campaigns at the US Open, Elena Rybakina is closing in on a milestone that could bring their pursuit of the World No. 1 ranking at the tournament to an end.

Elena Rybakina sweeps aside two-time champion Naomi Osaka to reach the US Open quarter-finals and close in on becoming world number one.

Elena Rybakina's win over Naomi Osaka in the 2026 US Open Round of 16 fuels the fire for an intense race for WTA World No. 1 that also includes current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula.