Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the US Open final on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The championship match features the world’s top two players and a high-stakes clash where Rybakina will ascend to the No. 1 WTA ranking on Monday.
The Grand Slam season arrives at its logical conclusion on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. More than seven months after their title clash at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are set to meet again in a major final, according to Wtatennis. While Sabalenka defends her crown in New York, the rankings landscape is shifting: Rybakina is taking over the world No. 1 spot on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week streak at the top.
Sabalenka’s Dominant Run to the Final in New York
Sabalenka arrived at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center looking to secure a rare US Open three-peat, a feat achieved in New York by only Serena Williams and Chris Evert, as detailed by sportingnews.com. Despite entering the tournament following a stretch of subpar results that included an exit in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, the 28-year-old Belarusian has dropped just one set through her first six matches.
Her semifinal victory over third-seeded American Jessica Pegula showcased some of her best tennis of the season. Sabalenka swept past Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in just 80 minutes, commanding the court with 170 total tournament winners and converting 25 break points along the way, notes Wtatennis.
Sabalenka added of her mindset heading into the final: I wanted it badly, to go to the final, and of course I want to go all the way. The mentality was just, I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever it’s going to take to get the win.
Across the net, Pegula acknowledged the sheer caliber of her opponent’s play, telling reporters, I think that’s probably the best match she’s played this year. I mean, I thought her level was insanely high. …She played insane. She played a super high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.
Rybakina’s Gritty Climb to the Championship Match
On the opposite side of the draw, 27-year-old Rybakina earned her spot in her first career US Open final by battling past home favorite Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a hard-fought semifinal encounter, according to nbcsports.com. That victory came on the heels of a slow recovery from a left ankle injury sustained in Cincinnati three weeks prior, which made walking difficult initially for the incoming World No. 1.
Rybakina demonstrated her trademark composure under pressure, overcoming a set deficit against Gauff and securing earlier wins against two-time champion Naomi Osaka and Qinwen Zheng. She enters Saturday’s match chasing her second major title of the year following her victory in Melbourne, where she defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.
Rybakina added: You just want to win and do your best.
She also noted the unique challenge Sabalenka poses on the court, describing her as a very aggressive player: It’s difficult to play with her, mentally, physically because she has big game, big serve.
Head-to-Head History and Coaching Perspectives
Saturday’s showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium marks the 18th career meeting between the two competitors and their third meeting in a Grand Slam final. Sabalenka holds a 10-7 edge in their overall head-to-head record, though 10 of their 17 previous matches have required a deciding set, underscoring how evenly matched the pair remain.
Former men’s player Max Mirnyi, who serves on Sabalenka’s coaching team, emphasized the high level of competition between the tour’s dominant forces when speaking to reporters on Friday, as reported by nbcsports.com.
Mirnyi continued: Their results and their rankings and their titles speak for themselves. When they see each other across the net, I think that brings out the best in each one of them.
Fellow coach Anton Dubrov also pointed to Sabalenka’s comfort in the energetic atmosphere of Arthur Ashe Stadium, observing with a laugh that she’s in love with New York, I guess.
Match Details and Broadcasting Information
The US Open women’s singles final is scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM BST / 4:00 PM ET on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Arthur Ashe Stadium within the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Viewers in the United Kingdom and participating regions can watch the match live via Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports+, NOW, and the Sky Sports App, according to sportingnews.com.
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