Rybakina dethrones Sabalenka in three to win maiden US Open crown

Rybakina subdues Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 for US Open title

This was a match of the minds. Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, has struggled at the slams this season. At the Australian Open, she led Elena Rybakina by a break in the decider but lost. At Wimbledon and Roland Garros, she failed to reach the semis.

At the Cincinnati Open in the quarterfinals, Rybakina was forced to retire after five games due to an Achilles injury. As a result, her appearance at the US Open was not a certainty, yet she battled through two consecutive three-setters to reach her first final. Before this fortnight, she had never progressed beyond the round of sixteen.

Sabalenka led the head-to-head 10-7, including two of three this season: Rybakina triumphed at the Australian Open while Sabalenka took the Indian Wells title and their semifinal match in Miami.
Sabalenka served first and held to 30 with a sweet slice backhand dropshot while Rybakina missed three consecutive first serves yet to love to level. Sabalenka gifted a double fault, faced two deuce and three break points but held for 2-1 with three consecutive winners including an ace out wide.

Julian Finney / Getty Images

Rybakina, with effortless power, struck three winners, including two consecutive aces, and held to 30 while Sabalenka donated three unforced errors, including a double fault to dump serve. Rybakina opened the sixth with a 117mph serve down the middle and with her third ace, held at love to consolidate the break for 4-2.

Sabalenka opened the seventh with her second ace and though she faced break point and deuce, held for 3-4 with a crosscourt forehand and unreturnable serve. Rybakina missed 7/8 first serves and faced deuce but held following three consecutive netted returns.

Sabalenka, serving to stay in the set, opened with a whiffed forehand swing volley but, with three consecutive winners including an ace up the tee, held for 4-5. Rybakina missed 7/8 first serves, including a double fault, but secured the set when Sabalenka missed wide with a crosscourt backhand.

Sabalenka served first in the second and held to 30 while Rybakina replied in kind to level at one. Sabalenka gifted three unforced errors, faced two deuce and two break points, yet held for 2-1 with three consecutive first serves and a winning inside-out forehand.

Rybakina hit two consecutive winners, including a 120mph ace up the tee, and held to 15 to level. Sabalenka made 4/5 first serves and, with two spectacular winners, held to 15 while Rybakina made 3/5 first serves and held to 15 for 3-3.

The two-time defending champion, serving with new balls, opened with a terrific crosscourt forehand and held at love. At the same time, Rybakina donated a double fault but held to 30 with two winners, including an ace up the tee.

Sabalenka struck a crosscourt backhand winner to hold at love for 5-4, while Rybakina, serving to stay in the set, faced deuce and double set point but held with two additional winners, including her sixth ace.

Sabalenka opened the eleventh with a fantastic forehand down the line and though she faced two deuce points, held with two consecutive winners including her fourth ace. With the packed stadium crowd hoping for a deciding set, Rybakina stepped to the line to force the breaker. She opened with an ace out wide and though she hit two more winners, conceded the set 5-7 when Sabalenka unloaded on a backhand return.

Sabalenka served first in the decider and though she opened with a marvelous crosscourt forehand, faced three deuce and break points before holding with a blistering backhand down the line. Rybakina opened with her 8th ace and held to love with her 9th.

Sabalenka hit two outstanding groundstroke winners but dumped her serve following two uncharacteristic errors. Rybakina hit two consecutive winners, including her tenth ace, and held to 15 to consolidate the break for 3-1.

Sabalenka held to 30 for 2-3 with three consecutive well-struck serves, including a 117mph ace out wide. Rybakina, with quiet confidence and resolve, held to love for 4-2 while Sabalenka hit her sixth ace but dumped serve with three unforced errors, including a double fault.

Rybakina served for the match and the Tiffany trophy. She opened with her 11th ace and, despite two double faults, secured victory with an ace up the tee. Though she lost the second set, she never lost belief. She consistently played fearless, purposeful tennis despite the mounting pressure. She dictated off the ground and dominated on serve.  

She finished with 11 aces, 4 double faults, and in spite of an incredibly low first serve percentage, won 83% of first and 59% of second serve points. She saved 2/3 break points while converting 3/12. She was equally effective when returning, winning 30% of first and 50% of second serve return points.

Sabalenka’s desire to not only three-peat but win a slam this season handcuffed her; she played tentatively instead of fearlessly.

Come Monday morning, Rybakina, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will be ranked world #1 for the first time. Not a bad fortnight at the office.