Elena Rybakina dethrones Aryna Sabalenka to win 1st U.S. Open title, punctuate her rise to No. 1 | CBC Sports

27-year-old from Kazakhstan earns $5.5M US, the largest prize in Grand Slam history

Elena Rybakina came to New York and took everything that had belonged to Aryna Sabalenka.

The tournament that for so long was a struggle for Rybakina turned into the site of her coronation.

Rybakina had already been guaranteed to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 in the rankings next week and for good measure took the title that Sabalenka had won the previous two years.

It was the third Grand Slam title for Rybakina and the second this year — both against Sabalenka on hard courts. She opened the season by beating Sabalenka for the Australian Open title.

The winning moment 🏆 Elena Rybakina is the 2026 US Open CHAMPION! #USOpen https://t.co/2a8mGJ742E

Rybakina earned $5.5 million US, the largest prize in Grand Slam history, and tied Sabalenka and French Open winner Mirra Andreeva with a tour-high three titles this season.

Sabalenka took home $2.8 million but it was clear how little that meant to her, as she smashed her racket after a brief hug with Rybakina at the net.

"I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today," Sabalenka said. "Not good enough."

The third meeting of No. 1 vs. No. 2 in a U.S. Open women's final since 2000 was the first to go the way of the challenger. Williams was the top seed for the other two, beating her sister Venus in 2002 and Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

And it's clear her power — and her ability to absorb her opponent's — was something that unnerved Sabalenka.

RecapElena Rybakina beats Coco Gauff, will play Aryna Sabalenka for the U.S. Open women's title