Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her first US Open title and become the WTA world No. 1 for the first time. The victory gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam title and made her the first player from Kazakhstan to reach No. 1 in singles.
The Kazakhstani star produced a composed performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, 12 September, to claim her third Grand Slam title and complete a remarkable rise to the top of the women’s game.
Rybakina’s victory also confirmed her as the new WTA world No. 1, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the summit. She becomes the first player from Kazakhstan to hold the top ranking.
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The 27-year-old has enjoyed a spectacular 2026 season.
Earlier this year, Rybakina won her maiden Australian Open title, defeating Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final to secure her second Grand Slam crown. She also won the Stuttgart title and reached the finals at Indian Wells and Toronto.
Her breakthrough year has now reached another level in New York.
At the US Open, Rybakina battled past Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals before overcoming home favourite Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals to reach her first final at Flushing Meadows.
She then faced Sabalenka for the third time in a Grand Slam final and once again proved too strong when it mattered most.
The US Open triumph adds to her Wimbledon title from 2022 and Australian Open crown from earlier this year, leaving her just one Grand Slam short of completing a career Grand Slam.
Rybakina’s 2026 achievements have established her as one of the dominant forces in women’s tennis — and now she can officially call herself world No. 1.
From Grand Slam champion to the top of the world — Elena Rybakina has arrived. 🌎🏆🇰🇿
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
