Elena Rybakina is on top of the tennis world, celebrating her first US Open title and her rise to number one barely more than three weeks after she feared injury would force her out of the final Grand Slam of the year. She’d already assured herself of toppling Sabalenka from the number one spot just by reaching the semi-finals. “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.”
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to claim her third Grand Slam title.
“I can’t find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said.
“I didn’t know actually how it’s going to be day by day. With a doctor in Australia providing valuable long-distance advice, Rybakina and her team came up with a plan to manage her training, rest and treatment and give her a chance at her second major title of the year, after her victory over Sabalenka at the Australian Open. Having narrowed Sabalenka’s lead in their head to 10-8, Rybakina is looking forward to more chances to take on her fiery rival, whose on-court personality is the perfect foil to her own cool approach.
The “little bit of an injury” saw Rybakina hobble out of her Cincinnati quarter-final on August 20 — 10 days before the start of the US Open — unable to put weight on her left heel. “It wasn’t the best time, for sure, because I was so upset,” Rybakina said. “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.”
