Aryna Sabalenka Says She Hopes to Reclaim No.1 Ranking From Elena Rybakina Ahead of Blockbuster US Open Title Showdown

Aryna Sabalenka will play her second Grand Slam final of the season, and she’ll face the player who denied her a third Australian Open title earlier this year. It’s, obviously, Elena Rybakina.

Both Rybakina and Sabalenka disappointed the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium when they saw off home favorites, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, in their respective semifinal matches. Rybakina’s run to the semifinal ensured that she will officially become World No.1 on Monday next week.

Sabalenka, since dethroning six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek from the top toward the end of the 2024 season, had been occupying the spot thanks to her consistent performance. But it was in mid-2026 that she suffered a dip in form, failing to win a title since beating Gauff in the Miami Open final to complete the Sunshine Double.

She, in fact, will be playing her first final since that Miami Open. All Rybakina needed to reach her career-best ranking was to defeat 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals. Irrespective of how other contenders (Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula) performed, Rybakina guaranteed herself the top position when she reached the last four. But Sabalenka, obviously, will try to reclaim it from her.

I really understand how tough it is to reach World No. 1. It was one of my goals. But right now, not much I could do. I didn’t really perform well in the middle of the season. Elena took it over and played really well. She took away the No.1 position. Not much I can do about that. I can only focus on myself and stay in the moment, and try to do my best right now. Just keep it tight, and maybe I will take it back from her.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

Sabalenka and Rybakina will face off for the 18th time in their career. The Belarusian ace holds a 10-7 head-to-head lead and defeated her in their last two matches (at Indian Wells and the Miami Open this year).

It does feel a bit weird you can perform well at the tournament and still be taken away the No.1 position. It’s okay. It’s sport. I love that. That’s the beauty of sport.

Aryna Sabalenka added

Sabalenka is chasing her fourth title of the season. She, in fact, is also aiming to complete a three-peat of this Slam.

Elena Rybakina on New York crowd’s disappointment after her win over Coco Gauff

Over the previous three seasons, an American woman reached the US Open final. Coco Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka in 2023, then the latter beat Jessica Pegula the following year. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion defended her crown by defeating Amanda Anisimova last year.

But this season, no American woman will play the final at Flushing Meadows. Which perhaps explains why the Arthur Ashe Stadium started clearing out quickly when Elena Rybakina became a party crasher by upsetting Gauff.

Of course, a lot of people today wanted Coco to win. It’s normal. In the beginning, I felt like it was a very nice atmosphere. Only in the end, when I was up in the third set, the crowd really supported a lot Coco. But I tried to focus on myself. Tried to not listen. I feel like, for me, it was also first match on Ashe at night. I enjoyed the atmosphere, even if the crowd was mostly for Coco.

Elena Rybakina said at the press conference

Rybakina has already won two titles this season: the Australian Open and the Stuttgart Open. She had also never reached the quarterfinals of this Slam before this season.

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