NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final Saturday, ending Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive title.
Sabalenka struggled with unforced errors throughout the 2-hour, 21-minute match and committed 35 in the final. She also received a warning after hitting a ball into the stands, slammed her racket against the court and broke another racket after the match.
“I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside (on the court),” Sabalenka said. “It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for (a) three-peat, so I just wanted to let it go.”
The 28-year-old Belarusian said she needed to express her frustration after the loss but praised Rybakina following the trophy ceremony.
Sabalenka also acknowledged that she failed to meet her own expectations.
“I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year,” she said. “Obviously, not really happy with the level I played (at).”
The loss marked Sabalenka’s fourth consecutive appearance in the US Open final. She had hoped to become the third woman to win the tournament three straight times.
Sabalenka also failed to win a Grand Slam title this year for the first time since 2022.
She entered the US Open after a difficult summer but reached the final before falling to Rybakina. Sabalenka said she plans to use the experience as motivation for next season.
“I’ll just keep working hard and keep improving my tennis,” she said. “There’s lots of things to take from this tournament. As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger.”
Sabalenka said she appreciated the support from the New York crowd, which rallied behind her during the final.
“At some point I felt like, ‘Oh my God, I feel American,’” she said. “I just wish I could win it and feel the support even more. Not this year.”
