She Didn’t Smile. She Didn’t Need To.

100% first-serve points won: Rybakina beats Sabalenka in Flushing

The lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium were on. Rybakina tucked her racket under her left arm and spun the ball twice in her right hand. Sabalenka stood across the net, sole scraping the hard court once. Neither looked at the other. First point: Rybakina’s first serve went into the net. Second serve: she added spin, the ball landed near the center line, Sabalenka’s backhand went wide.

First set: 27% and 88%

Neither player probed. In the first game, Sabalenka attacked with her forehand, hit two winners, and made two unforced errors. 30–30. Rybakina’s first serve landed in. Sabalenka’s return went into the net. Rybakina held.

In the first set, Sabalenka hit 12 winners. Rybakina hit 10. Sabalenka made 15 unforced errors. Rybakina made 5. Sabalenka gave away 10 extra points.

Rybakina’s first-serve percentage was 27%. Her first-serve points won was 88%. Her second-serve points won was 68%. If the serve landed in, Sabalenka struggled to return it. In the first set, Sabalenka did not get a break point.

Tenth game, Sabalenka served. At 30–30, her forehand went out. Rybakina had set point. Next point, Sabalenka’s backhand found the net. 6–4. Rybakina switched the racket to her left hand and walked to the chair. She did not smile.

Second set: Sabalenka takes pace off

In the second set, Sabalenka changed. She took pace off the serve. She added spin and opened the placement. From the baseline she stopped hitting every ball hard. She pushed the ball deep first, then waited. Unforced errors began to drop.

Rybakina raised her first-serve percentage, but she was pushed back from the baseline. Sabalenka’s forehand pressed into her backhand again and again, then changed direction. Rallies grew longer. Rybakina no longer held as easily as in the first set.

The score stayed close to the end of the set. Twelfth game, Rybakina served. At 30–30, her forehand went out. Break point. Sabalenka attacked the return. Rybakina’s backhand went out. Sabalenka broke. 7–5.

Second set over. Sabalenka tied the match at one set all. She put the towel over her head and sat back in the chair. Rybakina took a sip of water, eyes on the ground.

Third set: 100%

In the deciding set, Rybakina raised her serve again. Her first-serve percentage dropped from the second set, but her first-serve points won went to 100%. Second-serve points won: 67%. Sabalenka did not get a break point in the set.

From the baseline, Sabalenka rushed. She tried to add power; the ball went out. She tried to steady; the ball went into the net. Rybakina returned deep and waited for Sabalenka to move first. Sabalenka moved. Error.

Eighth game, Rybakina served for the match. She double-faulted twice in a row. A shout came from the stands. She walked behind the baseline, bounced the ball. One bounce, two, three. She tossed. Wide. Sabalenka reached with her backhand. The ball flew into the stands.

Match-ending ace. 6–2.

Rybakina put her racket on the ground and covered her face with both hands. Soon she lowered her hands and walked to the net. Sabalenka was already there. They shook hands. Rybakina patted Sabalenka’s arm.

Podium: trophy to the left hand

On the podium, Sharapova handed over the trophy. Rybakina took it and looked down at it once. On her left wrist hung the small charm Chinese fans had given her. The string was frayed. She switched the trophy to her left hand and shook Sharapova’s hand with her right.

Sabalenka stood beside her. This was her ninth Grand Slam final. She did not get a fourth title. At the Australian Open final this year, she lost to Rybakina. At the US Open final, she lost to Rybakina again.

Rybakina has reached four Grand Slam finals and won three. Swiatek has reached six Grand Slam finals and won all six. Zheng Qinwen lost to Rybakina this year, and Rybakina won the title.

Next week, the top line of the WTA rankings will change to Rybakina’s name. She will become the 30th world No. 1 in WTA history.

From Ningbo to New York

In the 2025 China swing, Rybakina won the Ningbo Open. At the Tokyo Open, she reached the semifinals. She edged out Andreeva and grabbed the last spot at the WTA Finals. At the WTA Finals, she won every match and took the title.

During the Ningbo tournament, Chinese fans gave her a small charm. She kept it with her. The charm went with her from Ningbo to Tokyo, then to the WTA Finals, the Australian Open, and the US Open. The string frayed. It was still on her bag.

This hard-court season, she beat Sabalenka twice. Australian Open champion. US Open champion.

Top line of the rankings

After the ceremony, Rybakina walked back to the player tunnel. The small charm hung from the zipper of her racket bag. She held the US Open trophy in her left arm and her racket in her right hand. At the end of the tunnel, someone called her name. She raised a hand. She did not stop.

Next week, the top line of the rankings will be her name.