Elena Rybakina locked up the world number one ranking, straight up ending Aryna Sabalenka’s insane 99-week run at the top. The rankings drop Monday, and no matter what happens in the US Open final, Rybakina is taking over the top spot. She absolutely clawed her way into that final too, coming back against American fourth seed Coco Gauff with a gritty 3-6 6-4 6-4 victory. Talk about delivering under pressure!
Rybakina’s Fight to the Top
“I took a deep breath and just told myself I needed to fight and show good tennis,” Rybakina said. That fight was on full display against Gauff, silencing a partisan crowd that was all in for the American. This is huge for the 27-year-old Kazakh, who previously had never even made it past the fourth round at the US Open. She’s already got Wimbledon from 2022 and she beat Sabalenka herself in the Australian Open final back in January. Can she do it again and deny Sabalenka a third straight US Open title? That’s the real question for Saturday’s showpiece. This final is going to be epic too, the first time the top two women’s seeds have faced off at the US Open since Serena Williams took on Victoria Azarenka way back in 2013.
Sabalenka’s Quest for History
But Sabalenka isn’t going to roll over. She sent a massive warning to everyone by absolutely overpowering home hope Jessica Pegula, taking that semi 7-5 6-2. She’s dead set on becoming only the third woman in the Open era to snag the New York singles title three times in a row. While her form had some folks wondering after early exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, despite “Sunshine Double” wins in March, she’s found her rhythm, dropping only one set en route to this final. “I was super desperate,” Sabalenka admitted after beating Pegula. “It feels for me, talking about Grand Slams, like a last push of the season. I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way.” She was frustrated early against Pegula, but once she found her groove, it was over, pounding 29 winners to Pegula’s 12. Sabalenka just broke the Open era record for most consecutive hard-court Grand Slam finals, reaching every major final on the surface since the 2023 Australian Open. Pegula, still without a Grand Slam title, knows this feeling all too well, having been denied by Sabalenka in the 2024 final and last year’s semis. Pegula even said Sabalenka probably played her best match this year.
So, the stage is set for Saturday. We’ve got the new world number one, Elena Rybakina, going for her third Grand Slam, trying to rub more salt into Sabalenka’s wounds. And then you’ve got Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off a 99-week reign at number one, trying to make history with a third straight US Open title. Who wants it more? We’ll find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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