Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open women's singles title, a result that also lifts her to the top of the women's game, according to Sportsnet.ca. The final was played on the weekend of September 12-13, 2026, and the win ended Sabalenka's attempt at a third consecutive US Open crown.
Sportsnet.ca reports that the victory punctuates Rybakina's climb to the No. 1 ranking. Coverage from the Toronto Star and tsn.ca frames the result the same way, describing the title run as one that places her above the rest of the field and leaves Sabalenka with ground to make up. ESPN characterized the championship as an unexpected one.
Sabalenka's three-peat bid fell short, and she was quoted by US Open Tennis saying the performance was "not good enough." That outlet reported the outcome as a failed attempt at a third straight title in New York.
The match settles the top of the women's rankings heading into the next stretch of the season, with Rybakina now holding the US Open trophy and the No. 1 position, while Sabalenka, the player she beat, must respond.
What to watch next: how both players perform in the tournaments that follow, and whether Rybakina holds the No. 1 spot as Sabalenka works to close the gap.