US Open 2026 results: Elena Rybakina on title win after pre-tournament injury

Elena Rybakina has won two of the four Grand Slam singles titles available in 2026

Elena Rybakina arrived in New York unable to walk without pain after injuring her foot. She leaves the city as the US Open champion and new world number one.

Clutching the trophy on Saturday night, Rybakina reflected that "some magic is happening" for her after her difficult lead-in to the tournament.

Playing on through injury could have had dire consequences for the rest of her season - but Rybakina, knowing the top ranking was in her grasp, wanted to try to play in the final Grand Slam of the year.

"I was lucky enough to have a very good doctor in Australia. She was on the phone with us all the time and somehow, with the team, we made a plan."

She won her first four matches at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set, including seeing off four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.

"I was so unlucky with the injury, but I'm very proud," Rybakina said.

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Rybakina had already been confirmed as world number one by reaching the semi-finals in New York. The fact that her final opponent was Sabalenka, the player she will replace at the top of the rankings, added an extra dimension to Saturday's championship match.

She landed only 27% of her first serves during the opener, but still won 22 of 30 points behind her serve and did not face a break point as she took the lead.

While her Belarusian opponent grew visibly more frustrated as the final slipped away, Rybakina remained remarkably composed.