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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.
Entering the tournament, four women had a shot at leaving New York as the world No. 1—and all four were competing in the semifinals Thursday, where Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were eliminated.
Rybakina will also take home the Grand Slam record prize of $5.5 million, bringing her career total to $35.32 million. She is 11th in career earnings, about $1.1 million away from passing Caroline Wozniacki and entering the Top 10.
Sabalenka will take home $2.8 million for her runner-up finish, bringing her career total to $53.2 million. She is second all-time, but trails Williams for the top spot by more than $41 million.
