US Open 2026: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina played in the final of the Australian Open this season. And now they will face off in the final of the last Major of the season, the US Open.

Both players eliminated home favorites in the semifinals. Sabalenka clinched a straight-set win over 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, while Rybakina beat 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina: Match Details

• Tournament: US Open 2026
• Match: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina
• Time: TBD
• Round: Final
• Surface: Outdoor hard court
• Date: September 12, 2026
• Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina: Match Preview

En route to the final, Aryna Sabalenka dropped just one set against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the quarterfinals. Apart from Noskova, the only other seeded player she faced was Jessica Pegula in the last four.

Sabalenka will be playing her first final since completing the rare Sunshine Double at the Miami Open. Earlier this season, she first defended her title at the Brisbane International by defeating Marta Kostyuk, then lost the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina.

After taking her revenge on the Kazakh ace by beating her in the Indian Wells Open final, Sabalenka beat home favorite Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final, completing the Sunshine Double. Since then, until this US Open, the 28-year-old had made just one semifinal, at the Berlin Open, where eventual runner-up Pegula ended her campaign.

Following the clay and the grass swing, Sabalenka was expected to regain her form on the North American hardcourt swing. But as she lost in the fourth rounds of both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, there were concerns regarding how she would perform at the US Open.

Those concerns are now set aside because Sabalenka has produced formidable performances in the tournament, where she is chasing a three-peat. Her run at the French Open ended in the quarterfinals, while at Wimbledon, she crashed out after reaching the fourth round.

Rybakina, on the other hand, has played four finals before this US Open. After winning her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne and losing in Indian Wells to Sabalenka, she clinched the Stuttgart Open by beating Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova, before losing the Canadian Open to six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Then in Cincinnati, she was forced to hand the walkover to the Pole in the fourth round due to an injury issue. At the French Open and Wimbledon, her run ended in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina: Match Prediction

The World No.1 (she will officially become No.2 on Monday next week) is chasing her fifth Grand Slam singles title and her first of the season. Sabalenka will be playing in the final of the US Open for the fourth consecutive time. After losing to Gauff in 2023, she beat Pegula the following year and Amanda Anisimova last year.

Rybakina, however, had never progressed past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows before this season, reaching the stage last season. The 27-year-old took home her first Major at the 2022 Wimbledon by beating Ons Jabeur, then lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open final the following season, before beating her in Melbourne this season.

Sabalenka holds a 10-7 head-to-head record over Rybakina, also winning their last two meetings in the two Sunshine Double events this season. The last time Rybakina beat Sabalenka was in the Australian Open final.

Match prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina Live Stream Details

• India – JioHotstar
• USA – ESPN
• UK – Sky Sports
• Canada – TSN, RDS
• Australia – Channel 9, Stan Sport
• New Zealand– ESPN
• France – Eurosport

Also read: Megyn Kelly Slams Naomi Osaka’s US Open Fashion Choices: “Looks Like Someone Ran Over Her Cat”