Rybakina’s US Open coronation settles the rankings battle but leaves questions beyond the court

Rybakina’s US Open coronation settles the rankings battle but leaves questions beyond the court
Elena Rybakina arrived in New York chasing Aryna Sabalenka’s ranking and departed with her championship, too. The 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory completed a takeover of women’s hard-court tennis—but not every question surrounding the new No. 1 has been settled.

Rybakina’s supporters see a champion finally matching immense shot-making ability with resilience. She overcame an Achilles injury, the pressure of a ranking change that depended on specific results and a final in which her normally devastating first serve initially deserted her. Yet she controlled the baseline, pressured Sabalenka’s second serve and recovered immediately after losing the second set. One account called the run “the greatest mental performance of her career.”

The result also sharpened the contrast between the rivals. Sabalenka was defending her title and seeking a third consecutive US Open crown, but her frustration repeatedly surfaced; Rybakina, by comparison, appeared largely unshaken. Sabalenka acknowledged the difference, saying Rybakina’s serve and ability to “step in and overpower you” made her especially dangerous on the fast New York courts. Rybakina now holds the Australian Open, US Open and WTA Finals titles, and needs only the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

But the sporting coronation has a complicated backdrop. Questions remain about Stefano Vukov, Rybakina’s coach, whose WTA ban for alleged abusive conduct was overturned on appeal. Rybakina credits her current team with helping her focus, saying, “It’s been a lot going on in the previous year outside of the court.” Her success is undeniable; the silence around that relationship means the scrutiny is unlikely to disappear with the trophy.