Elena Rybakina made sure her No. 1 ranking was definitive.
Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 in the women’s singles final of the US Open on Saturday for her first US Open title, second major title of the year, and third career Grand Slam.
She is missing only a title at Roland-Garros to secure a career Grand Slam.
The 27-year-old also denied Sabalenka a shot at three consecutive US Open titles, a feat only two women, Chris Evert and Serena Williams, have achieved.
On Monday, Rybakina will also take the world No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka, who held the spot for 99 consecutive weeks. Rybakina clinched the top spot Wednesday after advancing to the semifinals, securing enough points to surpass Sabalenka by the end of the tournament even if Sabalenka was able to win the US Open again and defend 2,000 points.
