Elena Rybakina secured her maiden US Open title as well as the WTA number one ranking after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash on Saturday. The Kazakhstani player registered a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 win against the Belarusian.

This is the third Grand Slam title for Rybakina and the second this year, both after besting Sabalenka in the final.

“It’s still so difficult to process what happened,” Rybakina said. “Too many achievements these few weeks.”

With this win, Rybakina ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open. Sabalenka’s last loss at the New York Major came in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff.

On the other hand, Sabalenka was looking to become the first person since Serena Williams, from 2012 to 2014 to win three in a row at Flushing Meadows.

“I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today,” Sabalenka said. “Not good enough.”

Sabalenka heaped praise on Rybakina for her all-round game.

“Her serve is amazing, the way she’s able to step in and overpower you on court, and especially if it’s a US Open court where it’s superfast, it’s definitely a huge advantage for her,” Sabalenka said. “A lot of things make her dangerous.”

Rybakina is known to maintain a poker face on the court as she hardly shows any emotions, irrespective of the match situation.

“I think Elena is probably — not nonchalant, I don’t want to say that, because she’s not nonchalant — but just no reaction ever,” Gauff said after losing to Rybakina in the semifinals.

Rybakina has not savored a lot of success in the past at the US Open, failing to advance past the fourth round until this year.

“I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful — nothing close to that,” Rybakina said. “It’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.”