Elena Rybakina has completed one of tennis’s most remarkable comebacks. From hobbling off court in Cincinnati with a debilitating heel injury to hoisting the US Open trophy and ascending to world number one, all in the space of three weeks. This is the stuff of sporting fairy tales.
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Kazakhstan’s ice-cool competitor dismantled two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday at Flushing Meadows to claim her third Grand Slam title and cement her position at the summit of women’s tennis. The victory was as much a triumph of physical resilience as it was of tennis brilliance.
“I can’t find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina admitted in the immediate aftermath of her triumph. “I don’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing with a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.”
From despair in Cincinnati to glory in New York
The understatement of calling it “a little bit of an injury” is quintessentially Rybakina. Just 10 days before the US Open began, the Kazakhstani limped out of her Cincinnati quarter-final on 20 August, unable to bear weight on her left heel.
“It wasn’t the best time, for sure, because I was so upset,” Rybakina revealed. “I didn’t know actually how it’s going to be day by day. We arrive to New York. We did MRI. It didn’t look that great. We had to talk with a lot of doctors to get opinion what we should do.”
The prognosis was grim. The MRI results showed significant concern, and Rybakina faced a crossroads: withdraw and preserve her long-term health, or gamble on a meticulous management plan that might, just might, allow her to compete.
Enter a doctor in Australia who provided crucial long-distance medical guidance. Together with her team, Rybakina devised a comprehensive strategy balancing training, rest, and treatment. It was a high-wire act with no margin for error, but it gave her a fighting chance at adding to her Australian Open triumph from earlier this year.
A championship fortnight for the ages
Rybakina’s path to the title showcased not just her physical recovery but her tactical evolution and mental fortitude. Her fourth-round demolition of two-time champion Naomi Osaka announced her intentions, whilst come-from-behind victories over resurgent Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and former champion Coco Gauff demonstrated her championship mettle.
Each victory brought her closer to an inevitable showdown with Sabalenka, the woman who had beaten her in last year’s final, the defending champion standing between Rybakina and tennis immortality.
The rivalry that defines an era
The final represented the 18th instalment of what has rapidly emerged as the most dynamic rivalry on the WTA tour. Where Sabalenka brings fire, intensity, and vocal emotion, Rybakina counters with an almost unsettling calm. The contrast in personalities makes their matches must-watch theatre.
Having narrowed Sabalenka’s head-to-head advantage to 10-8, Rybakina is already looking forward to the next chapter in their ongoing battle.
“I don’t know what the future will bring, but it’s always very difficult matches against Aryna,” she said. “I feel like we push each other to be better after such tough battles.”
The mutual respect between the two is evident, even as they wage war across the net. Rybakina’s cool demeanour provides the perfect foil to Sabalenka’s fiery on-court presence, creating a compelling narrative that tennis desperately needs.
The number one reality
Rybakina had already mathematically secured the world number one ranking by reaching the semi-finals, but claiming the trophy made the achievement all the sweeter. Yet she’s acutely aware that the target on her back has grown exponentially.
With Sabalenka, Gauff, and Jessica Pegula all having had opportunities to claim the top spot in New York, Rybakina knows the competition at the summit is ruthless.
Rather than feeling intimidated, Rybakina embraces the challenge.
“I feel like not only with her, with also other players, top players, you always want to try something new, to change in your game, to be better,” she explained. “I don’t know what future is going to bring, but I hope success and some more wins.”
A champion’s mentality
What sets Rybakina apart is her relentless pursuit of improvement. Three Grand Slam titles before turning 26, Wimbledon 2022, Australian Open 2025, and now the US Open, with the French Open the only major still eluding her. The career Grand Slam is within touching distance.
