Elena Rybakina wins US Open after beating Aryna Sabalenka in three sets

Elena Rybakina underlined her new-found status as the world No 1 after beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden US Open title.

Going into Saturday’s showpiece, Rybakina knew she was going to usurp Sabalenka as the world No 1 irrespective of the result, but she made sure she did so on a high after triumphing 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

It was her second grand slam title this year, and third of her career, after emerging victorious at the Australian Open in January against Sabalenka.

‘I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years and it was never successful, nothing close to that and it’s just incredible,’ said the ecstatic 27-year-old from Kazakhstan.

‘I’m falling in love with New York more and more. It’s amazing memories for me.’

Tears of pain for Aryna Sabalenka

For Sabalenka, the defeat completed a year where she failed to win a grand slam. The realisation of this loss at Flushing Meadows was reflected by her sat in her chair, furiously smashing her racket in to smithereens as Rybakina celebrated.

‘The last thing I want to do now is give a speech, but I’ll try my best,’ the tearful 28-year-old Belarusian said.

‘Obviously I’m disappointed but I want to congratulations Elena on an incredible year and an incredible result. Enjoy it.’

‘I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year.’

Explaining her racket smashing at the end, she added: ‘It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the grand slam and when you were trying to go for ‘three-peat’.

‘So I just wanted to let it go, because if I held it inside, right now or here or there on the court, I wouldn’t be able to say a word or I would just be not really nice.’