Elena Rybakina won the US Open women's singles title, beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 in the final, despite arriving in New York struggling to walk after aggravating a foot injury at the Cincinnati Open. The victory, achieved with barely any on-court training beforehand, also confirms the Kazakh player as the new world number one, replacing Sabalenka, the very opponent she defeated in the final.

Rybakina, 27, had suffered the injury during her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek just over a week before the tournament and needed an MRI and a recovery plan devised with a doctor in Australia before deciding to compete. She progressed through the draw without dropping a set in her first four matches, defeating Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff en route to the final, where she remained composed under pressure, sealing victory with an ace despite two late double faults while serving for the title. It is her third Grand Slam title overall and second win over Sabalenka in a 2026 major final, following her Australian Open triumph in January, and she will become the 30th woman to top the world rankings.