Earlier this year, Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets at the Australian Open, taking the first major blow in what has become the defining rivalry of the 2026 women’s tour. Sabalenka responded in style, beating the Kazakhstani at Indian Wells and Miami to protect her status as world No.1. Even then, it was clear this would be the hardest contest at the top of the game.
Yet in New York, Rybakina did it again. She beat Sabalenka on hard courts in a three-set US Open final that reminded the sport of a simple truth: her name may not always carry the same flash, but few players can dismantle the tour’s best with such cold efficiency.
The first set caught fire early, with Sabalenka matching Rybakina through the opening exchanges. Yet once Rybakina found the break, helped by a Sabalenka double fault, the tone changed. The Belarusian grew agitated and increasingly exposed while Rybakina waited and gazed with quietmenace, knowing that on serve she could monopolize the conversation. She closed the first set with ruthless calm, finishing Sabalenka with a backhand placed exactly where most can’t reach it: deep into the far corner.
The second set showed New York that Sabalenka came for a reason and was not ready to surrender her title yet. When her mind is controlled, Sabalenka knows how to be resilient. Yet there was a rawness to her energy, racket drops and screams arriving whenever she made mistakes. And that’s something Rybakina excels at capitalising. Yet Sabalenka smelled opportunity at 6-5, as it was Rybakina’s turn to serve and the pressure was on the Kazakh’s side. The former world No.1 sensed an opening, took it, broke her rival and forced a deciding set in New York.
The third became the true test. Could Rybakina sustain her level, or would Sabalenka complete the comeback? The answer came quickly. Rybakina’s ability to absorb Sabalenka’s power and return it with even more power dragged the world No.1 into errors. Once ahead, the Kazakhstani did what she so often does best: stayed cool, served bullet-like balls and finished the job.
On Saturday evening, Rybakina showed why she may be the most dangerous server in women’s tennis. Sabalenka felt it, and knows that it’s always her emotions that get the most of her and gives opportunities to her rival at Grand Slam finals. She has the hardest job for the rest of the year: to overcome her emotions. That will always be the key to sustaining her performances.
Carlos Alcaraz returned to competitive tennis at Flushing Meadows after nearly five months away - when a wrist injury picked up in Barcelona in April kept him out of Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the North American hard-court swing. New York, where he defended his US Open title last September against Jannik Sinner, was the long-awaited comeback stage. And for most of a fortnight, it looked like one of the sport's cleaner returns: Jaime Faria, Wu Yibing and Tommy Paul where all surpassed by the former World No.1’s precision and strategic control. The defending champion appeared to back, or close enough to set himself up on the final stage of the Open.
Yet Ben Shelton, the 23-year old American, did not let his opportunity go by. The two met in the quarterfinals, and Shelton sealed a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) win on Arthur Ashe Stadium at 3:33am. Their match became the latest finish in US Open history.
After dropping the first set, Shelton took control with his serve, pushed to the net relentlessly and wore Alcaraz down over the course of three hours. By the fifth-set tie-break, the Spaniard had nothing left: visibly knackered, he vomited into his towel between points before watching Shelton close it out with an ace. Five months without competitive tennis at the highest level do require an adaptation tournament. Unfortunately for Alcaraz, the US Open had to take the fall.
In the semi-finals, Shelton faced Frances Tiafoe - a friend turned rival who had put together his own tournament: beating Vacherot, Medvedev, and coming back from two sets and a break down against fellow American Alex Michelsen in the quarters. The all-American contest ensured entertainment early on, and didn’t disappoint: Tiafoe won the first set 6-4. while Shelton took the next three - 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 - with the composure of someone who had already beaten the defending champion four days earlier. Yet the Shelton-Tiafoe match was a game for the ages, where the crowd was split over who to support and the players put on a performance in style, physicality and wit.
Tonight, Shelton faces the recent Roland Garros trophy lifter, Alexander Zverev, for a shot at the US Open Crown. It’s Shelton’s first Grand Slam final, and it’s on home soil. While Zvereve ranks favorite, Shelton has spent two weeks silencing doubts and New York will be behind him. It will be a final worth staying late for.
