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09/12 17:49 CDT Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open title
and punctuate her rise to No. 1
Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open title and punctuate her
rise to No. 1
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Elena Rybakina won her first U.S. Open title and punctuated
her climb to the top of women's tennis by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
on Saturday.
Rybakina had already been guaranteed to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 in the
rankings next week and for good measure took the U.S. Open title that Sabalenka
had won the previous two years.
It was the third Grand Slam title for Rybakina and the second this year ---
both against Sabalenka on hard courts. She opened the season by beating
Sabalenka for the Australian Open title.
This time, she stopped Sabalenka's 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open,
where she hadn't lost since falling to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final.
Rybakina earned $5.5 million, the largest prize in Grand Slam history, and tied
Sabalenka and French Open winner Mirra Andreeva with a tour-high three titles
this season.
Sabalenka took home $2.8 million but it was clear how little that meant to her,
as she smashed her racket after a brief hug with Rybakina at the net.
Sabalenka was trying to become the first person since Serena Williams from
2012-14 to win three in a row at Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina dethroned the champ without even having her best stuff. The WTA Tour
leader in aces got less than half of her first serves in but instead put
Sabalenka under constant pressure with a strong return game, racking up 12
break chances and converting three, which was all she needed.
___
See AP's full tennis coverage here
