New York: Elena Rybakina claims first US Open title, becomes world No. 1
Elena Rybakina, the No. 2 seed, secured her first US Open title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan overcame Sabalenka with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in New York. This victory marks Rybakina’s third Grand Slam title overall and elevates her to the world No. 1 ranking, replacing Sabalenka.
The match, played on Saturday, saw Rybakina‘s strong serve protection as a decisive factor, even on a day when her first serve percentage was low. She managed to keep Sabalenka on the defensive from the baseline, denying her opponent angles by consistently hitting the ball down the middle. This strategy proved effective in smothering Sabalenka‘s attempts to gain momentum.
Rybakina’s Dominance and Sabalenka’s Frustration
Rybakina‘s performance was described as composed and outstanding throughout the final. In the first set, despite landing only eight of 30 first serves, equating to 27 percent, Rybakina still held the advantage. Her ability to generate a strong kick on her second serve, reaching speeds of around 95 mph, prevented Sabalenka from capitalizing on the lower first-serve percentage. Rybakina maintained a 68 percent win rate on her second serve in the first set and won 64 percent of points on Sabalenka‘s second serve, highlighting her tactical superiority.
For Sabalenka, the defeat was particularly challenging. She had entered the tournament as the two-time defending champion and the world No. 1, having held the top spot for 99 weeks. The loss ended her 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. This result also means Sabalenka will conclude the year without a Grand Slam title, a first since 2022. Her frustrations were evident during the match, as she was seen slamming her racquet to the ground after offering a break point to Rybakina in the second set and again after Rybakina secured victory with an ace.
After the match, Sabalenka expressed the difficulty of controlling emotions in such a high-stakes final, particularly when aiming for a “three-peat.” She explained that she needed to release her aggression and disappointment. Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft observed that Sabalenka‘s negative body language and emotions contributed to her struggles, suggesting that she was “beating herself.”
Season of Setbacks for Sabalenka
This US Open final marked the second time this year that Rybakina has defeated Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final, having also won the Australian Open against her. Sabalenka has faced a season of setbacks despite winning three WTA titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and the Miami Open. She has been second-best to Rybakina in the hard-court majors.
Sabalenka‘s performance in major finals has been inconsistent. She has won four of her nine Grand Slam singles finals, but only one of her four finals while ranked as world No. 1. All five of her major final losses have gone to three sets, and in two of those occasions, she won the opening set. Earlier in the year, she lost a tight three-set Australian Open final to Rybakina. At the French Open, she lost in the quarter-finals after leading Diana Shnaider by a set and 4-1, eventually losing the decider 6-0. Her earliest Grand Slam exit in four years occurred at Wimbledon, where she lost in the fourth round to Naomi Osaka.
Despite the disappointment, Sabalenka indicated that she would take lessons from the tournament and use them to motivate her for the next year. She stated that she should be happy with her overall level of play and believes these experiences will make her stronger. The US Open was intended to salvage her season, but she must now adapt to her new position as world No. 2 following Rybakina‘s victory.
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Source: bbc.com
