Elena Rybakina’s Emotional Reaction After Defeating Sabalenka in US Open Final

Elena Rybakina was overcome with emotion after securing her first US Open women’s singles title, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

From one great champion to another 🤝 pic.twitter.com/RSL9Th5YNP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

Speaking after the victory, the Kazakhstani star admitted that she never expected to go all the way at this year’s tournament, particularly after dealing with an injury.

“It’s tough to find words right now. I didn’t expect anything like this coming to this tournament,” Rybakina said.

Rybakina praised Sabalenka for her fighting spirit and acknowledged how difficult it was to face the two-time defending champion.

“Aryna, you’re a great champion. It’s so difficult to play you. You push to such a limit.”

The new US Open champion also revealed that she had doubts during the match but continued fighting for every point.

“I was doubting on the court and trying to get to all the possible balls.”

Rybakina then turned her attention to her opponent’s team, congratulating them on their achievements and praising their work.

The triumph carried even greater significance for Rybakina because of her long history at the US Open. She revealed that she had been coming to New York for the past decade without getting close to winning the tournament.

“I was coming here for the last ten years and was never successful. Nothing close to that. It’s just incredible.”

The victory has now given Rybakina unforgettable memories in New York, with the Grand Slam champion saying she is “falling in love with New York more and more.”
Her emotional reaction perfectly captured the significance of a breakthrough that had been years in the making.