What a year it's been for Elena Rybakina. After kicking off 2026 with a title at the Australian Open, she closed out the Grand Slam season in spectacular fashion, dethroning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to capture the US Open crown. The tennis world is buzzing, and fans are showering the Kazakh star with the recognition many believe she's long deserved.
In a final that had everything, Rybakina struck first, taking the opening set 6-4. But Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion in New York, refused to fold, rallying to claim the second set 7-5 and sending the match to a decider. That's where Rybakina truly shone, dismantling Sabalenka 6-2 in the third set to seal the victory and the championship.
The win gives Rybakina her third Grand Slam title in just three major finals — a remarkable feat that puts her one French Open title away from a career Grand Slam. She also snapped Sabalenka's streak of consecutive US Open titles, adding an extra layer of significance to the triumph.
Social media erupted with praise for the new champion. "Congrats to Elena!! Great tournament!! Totally deserved!! Happy for her!!" one fan wrote on X. Another chimed in, "I honestly think Elena Rybakina doesn’t get anywhere near the recognition she deserves. What she’s achieved is absolutely incredible, yet WTA and everyone else act like they couldn’t care less. If Coco Gauff or Iga Swiatek had done this, the whole place would be flooded with posts about them. But I’ll keep saying it: Elena Rybakina is the world No. 1 and the US Open champion."
Some fans were simply relieved to see Sabalenka denied a third straight title. "Well deserved, so glad Aryna didn’t win this," one user remarked. Others were already looking ahead, with one predicting a "Career Grand Slam incoming." Another fan praised her style: "No drama. No theater. Just great tennis. Well done Elena."
Rybakina's path to the final was anything but easy. She had to navigate a brutal draw, defeating two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, former World No. 4 Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, and current World No. 4 Coco Gauff in the semifinals. That gauntlet set up her rematch with Sabalenka, and she passed with flying colors.
Interestingly, this wasn't the first time Rybakina found herself in the spotlight at this year's US Open. Earlier in the tournament, fans criticized the crowd for giving her a cold shoulder after her win over Gauff, but now the same fans are singing her praises. It seems the tennis world is finally giving Rybakina her due.
With a third major in hand and a career Grand Slam within reach, the stars are aligning for Rybakina to become the new face of women's tennis. Her blend of power, poise, and humility has endeared her to fans, and her results speak for themselves. If she can conquer Paris next year, she'll join an elite club of players who have won all four majors.
For now, Rybakina can bask in the glory of a season that will be remembered as "The Year of Elena Rybakina." And if her recent form is any indication, this might just be the beginning of a dynasty.
