Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- Aryna Sabalenka has reached the 2026 US Open women’s singles final.
- Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinal.
- The Belarusian star is chasing her third consecutive US Open title.
- Elena Rybakina will face Sabalenka in the championship match.
- Rybakina is set to become the new WTA world No. 1 next week.
- Sabalenka has won 20 consecutive matches at the US Open dating back to 2024.
- The final is a rematch of the 2026 Australian Open championship match.
- Sabalenka leads Rybakina 10-7 in their career head-to-head record.
Aryna Sabalenka News Today
Aryna Sabalenka is preparing for one of the biggest matches of her 2026 season after reaching the US Open final in dominant fashion. The two-time defending champion defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, earning a fourth consecutive appearance in the New York final.
Sabalenka’s latest victory has put her one win away from completing a historic US Open hat-trick. She is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. Serena achieved the feat from 2012 through 2014.
Sabalenka Finds Her Best Form
Sabalenka arrived in New York after a difficult period that included early exits at Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati. Her form before the US Open created questions about whether she could defend her title.
Those doubts have largely disappeared during the tournament. Sabalenka has been particularly impressive in the latter stages, defeating Linda Noskova in a dramatic quarterfinal before producing a commanding performance against Pegula in the semifinal.
Against Pegula, Sabalenka produced powerful baseline tennis and closed the match strongly. The official US Open website described her as having played with a heightened sense of urgency as she continued her pursuit of a third straight championship.
Rybakina Awaits in the Final
Standing between Sabalenka and another US Open trophy is Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh player reached her first US Open final by defeating Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The matchup creates a fascinating rematch because Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier in 2026. The two players have also met in major matches several times, making their rivalry one of the most significant on the women’s tour.
Sabalenka currently leads their overall head-to-head 10-7. She also won their two most recent hard-court meetings after losing the Australian Open final.
World No. 1 Ranking Battle
The US Open final also carries major ranking significance. Although Sabalenka entered the tournament as the world’s top-ranked women’s player, Rybakina has already earned enough ranking points to take the No. 1 position next week regardless of the final result.
That means Sabalenka’s main objective in the championship match will be the trophy rather than defending the top ranking. A victory would give her a fifth Grand Slam singles title and further establish her dominance on hard courts.
