Sabalenka eyes historic three-peat in US Open final vs. Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are set to face off Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a US Open final that mirrors how the Grand Slam season began. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, is bidding to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams accomplished the feat from 2012 to 2014. Rybakina, who will officially become the new world No. 1 on Monday regardless of Saturday's result, is seeking her first US Open trophy.apnews+2

A Rivalry Renewed

The matchup is a rematch of the Australian Open final earlier this year, making it just the second time since the Australian Open became a hard-court event in 1988 that the same two women have contested both finals. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head record 10-7, including victories in recent hard-court finals at Indian Wells and Miami. But Rybakina's surge through the rankings — she ended Sabalenka's 99-week reign at No. 1 after beating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals — has shifted the dynamic heading into Saturday's match, scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.aljazeera+5

Road to the Final

Sabalenka powered past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in her semifinal, extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 19 matches — a run stretching back to Coco Gauff's victory over her in the 2023 final. Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal, advancing to her fourth career Grand Slam final.youtube+3

Extra Motivation

According to the BBC, Sabalenka's camp believes the loss of the No. 1 ranking has given the Belarusian added fuel heading into Saturday's match. Anton Dubrov, Sabalenka's manager, told reporters that the team sees the ranking shift as a motivating force rather than a setback. Sabalenka carries the weight of history on her racket: a victory would place her alongside Williams and Chris Evert as the only women to win three or more consecutive US Open titles in the Open Era.bbc+2