Final set for Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will face off in the US Open women's singles final on Saturday, 12 September, at 16:00 local time (EDT, UTC-4) at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. The match is a rematch of the 2026 Australian Open final. Sabalenka, the incumbent world No. 1 and two-time defending champion, is seeking a third consecutive title in New York. Rybakina, the second seed, is aiming for her second major of the season and the No. 1 ranking.[S1]
Sabalenka secured her place in the final with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Rybakina advanced by coming from a set down to defeat home favourite Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, reaching her first US Open final. The matchup carries a ranking consequence: Rybakina needed to reach the semifinals to guarantee she would replace Sabalenka at the top of the WTA Rankings next week, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign as No. 1.[S1]
Rybakina's run and Sabalenka's streak
Rybakina's campaign in New York included a victory over Naomi Osaka and comeback wins against Qinwen Zheng and Gauff. Her participation had been in doubt due to a left ankle problem suffered in Cincinnati, but she responded with a run that set up the final against Sabalenka. Sabalenka enters the championship clash with a 20-match unbeaten run at the US Open dating back to 2024.[S1]
The final will be the 18th meeting between the two players, with Sabalenka holding a 10-7 lead. It is their third Grand Slam final: Sabalenka won the 2023 Australian Open, and Rybakina won the 2026 Australian Open. The Guardian highlighted the rivalry's back-and-forth, noting Sabalenka's grin after Rybakina's Indian Wells speech and recording Sabalenka saying she would make sure it was the last time, before Rybakina replied that they would see next time.[S1]
What's at stake
Sabalenka can become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open women's singles titles since Serena Williams in 2012-14. Rybakina can add a second major of the season and begin her reign as World No. 1 with the biggest prize of all. The stakes extend beyond the trophy because Rybakina's quarter-final victory over Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen confirmed her ascent to No. 1 when the updated WTA rankings are published on Monday, ending Sabalenka's 99-week streak at the top.[S1]
Ahead of the final, Sabalenka framed the moment as a last push, telling reporters on Thursday that she wanted it badly, to go to the final, and of course she wants to go all the way. Rybakina said she would not put extra pressure on herself before the showdown, noting that they are very close in the rankings. The Al Jazeera preview framed the clash as a chance for Sabalenka to complete a rare three-peat of US Open titles, while Rybakina tries to deny the circuit's current boss a third consecutive title in New York.[S1]
