Sabalenka and Rybakina collide in US Open final as No. 1 changes hands

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina meet in the US Open women's singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on 12 September 2026, with the trophy and the top of world tennis on the line.

Sabalenka is the top seed, the player placed at the head of the draw to keep the leading contenders apart early. She arrived in New York as the two-time defending champion and as women's world No. 1 for the past 99 weeks, according to The Guardian.

That ranking is about to change. Rybakina will replace Sabalenka as world No. 1 on the Monday after the final, for the first time in her career. The WTA noted she will take the top spot regardless of the result in New York.

Rybakina booked her place by rallying past Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final. She lost the first set, then held firm in the longer exchanges to turn the match. Sabalenka came through her semi-final against Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, to set up the showdown.

It is a familiar meeting. The final is the 18th career meeting between Sabalenka and Rybakina, per US Open. It is their fourth final in the previous 10 months and their third Grand Slam final, with one win apiece from the first two.

Rybakina beat Sabalenka in the final of the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh and again in the final of the 2026 Australian Open. Sabalenka answered by beating Rybakina in the Indian Wells final. She also won the Miami title in March 2026.

Rybakina carries a 2-0 record in Grand Slam finals into this match. Sabalenka carries the record of a champion defending her ground in New York.

The final was scheduled for about 4pm New York time, 9pm BST, in Arthur Ashe Stadium. In the United States it was televised on ESPN and streamed on ESPN.

What makes this stand out is the balance. Serve against serve. Return against return. Rybakina strikes first. Sabalenka refuses to step back. Expect short points, loud hitting and nerve at the end of sets.