NEW YORK (AP):
Aryna Sabalenka is going for a third consecutive US Open title. Standing in her way is Elena Rybakina, who is taking over from her as the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in the world.
Sabalenka and Rybakina meet in the final today, their third time playing for a Grand Slam championship and 18th head-to-head matchup of their careers. It comes with them at the top of their games and the top of the sport after Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets and Rybakina rallied past Coco Gauff in the semi-finals.
“We’re dealing with the two best players in the last couple of years on the women’s side,” former men’s player Max Mirnyi, now part of Sabalenka’s coaching team, said yesterday. “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.”
Sabalenka entered the US Open in a bit of a rut, failing to reach the quarterfinals in each of her past three tournaments, including an exit in the round of 16 at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old has looked right at home back in Flushing Meadows, losing just one set in six matches and making another deep run in dominant fashion.
Sabalenka has been first in the WTA rankings since October 21, 2024. Regardless of the result, that changes Monday, with Rybakina ascending to that spot for the first time.
Rybakina, 27, is one victory away from her third major title and second this year. She won the Australian Open in January, beating Sabalenka in the final.
“It’s an important match, and since it’s a final, honestly, I feel like it doesn’t matter who is on the other side,” Rybakina said. “You just want to win and do your best.”
Sabalenka has won 10 of her 17 matches against Rybakina, including two of three at Grand Slams. Rybakina is 4-2 when they’ve faced off in a final.
“She’s a very aggressive player: It’s difficult to play with her, mentally, physically because she has big game, big serve,” Rybakina said. “I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and make the right decisions in the right moment because most of the times it’s (a) tight, tight score.”
Mirnyi believes Sabalenka has gotten better throughout the tournament. That was evident in her making quick work of the third-ranked Pegula 7-5, 6-2, in 80 minutes to reach her fourth U.S. Open final in a row.
So much for the concerns over Sabalenka’s summer struggles.
“I feel confident, and I feel mentally and physically really strong right now,” Sabalenka said.
