A one before the final, after her win over Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals.She will officially become the top-ranked player when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.She will be the first Kazakhstani playar to reach world No.1 in singles.
Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan won the US Open women’s singles title by beating Aryna Sabalenka with scores of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in New York.This victory gives her her third Grand Slam championship.
A Rybakina had already become world No.
A US Open title adds to her Wimbledon win in 2022 and her Australian Open victory this year.
Rybakina now has three of the four Grand Slam titles.
Sabalenka came into the final as the world No.
1 and the previous US Open champion.The match was a rematch of the Australian Open final, which Rybakina had won earlier this year.
Rybakina is now one of Kazakhstan’s most famous athletes.
In New York, she beat Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen, and Coco Gauff before facing Sabalenka in the final.
During the tournament, Rybakina said she felt “very proud representing Kazakhstan” and mentioned that more kids in her country are getting interested in tennis.
No. 1 Elena Rybakina wins title in three-set thriller
Her success has set several firsts for Kazakhstan.
She was the first Kazakhstani player to win a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, and she is now the first to reach the top of the world rankings.
Rybakina Stuns Sabalenka, Claims US Open Title and World No. 1 Spot
Rybakina not only claimed her first career title at Flushing Meadows but also moved to the top of the women’s tennis rankings.
It only took Rybakina 44 minutes to defeat Sabalenka 6-4 in the first set.
The Belarusian Sabalenka struggled with her game for much of the first set, expressing her frustration by muttering to herself and her coaching team.
And in an even more surprising turn of events, Rybakina, the Russian-born Kazakhstani player, won the set despite completing just 27% of her first serves.
Despite her difficulties, she lost only eight of the 30 points on her serve and never faced a break point.
But, as Sabalenka has often shown throughout her remarkable career, she fought back and appeared more in control during the second set.
Rybakina Clinches Thrilling US Open Final, Dends Sabalenka’s Resistance in Deciding Set.
A 28-year-old player had two chances to finish the set when she was leading 5-4, but both times, Rybakina came back to tie it at 5-5.Sabalenka eventually won the set 7-5 and forced a third set.
Rybakina started the third set strongly, quickly taking a 5-2 lead and putting Sabalenka under pressure.
Frustration returned for Sabalenka as Rybakina kept pushing.She celebrated her victory, and Sabalenka threw her racket to the ground before rushing to hug her at the net.
At match point, Rybakina hit an ace to win the game.
How did Rybakina qualify for the WTA Finals?
She was the last one to secure her spot.
What’s the significance of this win?
Rybakina earned $5.235 million, the largest payout in women’s tennis history
