Sabalenka vs Rybakina: US Open women’s singles final – start, prize, form

What the report says

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the US Open 2026 women’s singles final on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, with Al Jazeera noting the match is scheduled for 4pm local time (20:00 GMT). The final features the tournament’s top two seeds and comes as Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, tries to complete a rare three consecutive US Open titles. Rybakina, meanwhile, is set to rise to world No. 1 when the rankings update on Monday.

According to Al Jazeera, Sabalenka reached the final by defeating American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, while Rybakina came back from a set down to beat defending champion Coco Gauff in the semifinals. The report says the two players have already met several times this year, including Sabalenka’s wins in Miami and Indian Wells, while Rybakina claimed the Australian Open title earlier in the season. Their rivalry is now set for its 18th career meeting, and their third Grand Slam final against each other.

Al Jazeera said Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 10-7 and enters the final in strong form, having dropped only one set en route to the title match. Rybakina said she is trying to avoid putting too much pressure on herself and views the match as another chance to test herself against a top opponent. The winner will receive $5.5 million, while the runner-up will take $2.8 million. The outcome matters both for the title race and for the world rankings, while also potentially placing Sabalenka alongside a small group of women who have won three straight in New York.