Rybakina's US Open Title: Eyeing a 2027 Career Slam

Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open final on September 12, winning her first US Open title and third career Grand Slam. The result also confirmed her as the new world No. 1, a ranking she had already taken from Sabalenka days earlier, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign atop the WTA. Rybakina is the first Kazakh player to reach No. 1 or win a Grand Slam singles title.

What Happened

The win denied Sabalenka a third straight US Open title after her 2024 and 2025 championships. Rybakina had already clinched the No. 1 ranking before the final simply by reaching the title match, then closed out the season's last major by rallying from a second-set slip to win the decider 6-2. It is Rybakina's third major overall, following Wimbledon in 2022, and her second of the 2026 season.

A Season of Extremes

Rybakina's 2026 has been defined by contrast between surfaces. She opened the year by beating Sabalenka again, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to win the Australian Open, then lost in the second round at Roland-Garros and the third round at Wimbledon before this US Open run. Across eight main-draw appearances in Paris, her best result remains the quarterfinals, reached in 2021 and 2024.

One Major Away From History

With Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and now the US Open on her resume, Roland-Garros is the only Grand Slam missing from a Career Grand Slam for Rybakina. Speaking to CBS Mornings after the final, she called it her clear target: "It would be something huge for me, because I consider winning all four Grand Slams on four different surfaces a true feat. I don't even know how many players have managed to do it. It's clearly my next goal. Together with my team, we'll do everything we can to achieve it in the coming years." She also struck a cautious note about pacing herself into 2027, telling reporters her main priority is staying healthy: "The main priority, because I am not getting younger, is to try and keep myself healthy and definitely choose the calendar correctly and the training process."

The Men's Final: Zverev's Second Major of 2026

A day later, Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 5-7, 6-2 to win the men's title, his second major of the season after his run to the 2026 French Open title in June. The loss extended the American men's Grand Slam singles drought to 23 years. Zverev now arrives at Roland-Garros 2027 as the defending champion off the best season of his career.

What It Means for Roland-Garros 2027

Rybakina heading into Roland-Garros 2027 (May 23 to June 6) as world No. 1 and a two-time 2026 major champion, but with a tournament-worst quarterfinal ceiling there, is one of the more pointed storylines of the offseason. A Career Grand Slam bid raises her profile heading into the clay swing regardless of how she manages her schedule, and it puts extra scrutiny on a surface that has given her more trouble than any other. Paired with Zverev returning to defend the men's title as a two-major champion, the 2027 field is shaping up around two players trying to prove last spring's results were not one-offs. Catch up on Zverev's win in Paris and Zheng Qinwen's US Open run in our Zheng Qinwen recap.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

Storylines like Rybakina's Career Slam bid are exactly why the clay season is worth planning for early. Browse available French Open 2027 tickets at GoalTickets to start planning your trip, and explore our full player profiles to get to know the contenders before Roland-Garros returns.

Reporting on Elena Rybakina's US Open title verified against the US Open's official site, ESPN, and Tennis Majors.