There is an incredible women’s singles final set at the 2026 US Open. The two best players in the world are facing off in their second major final this year. Aryna Sabalenka looks to complete the US Open three-peat, while Elena Rybakina looks to prove why she is the new No. 1 player in the world.
Here is my pick and prediction for the US Open final between Sabalenka and Rybakina.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina Prediction, Preview
Aryna Sabalenka Preview
The three-peat is still on for Aryna Sabalenka. She has been truly incredible at hardcourt majors over the past few years. Sabalenka has now made the final in eight consecutive hardcourt majors. At the US Open, she has made the semifinals six years in a row, the final four years in a row, and now has a chance to win a third straight title. The last few months have been a bit of a struggle for Sabalenka, and she has relinquished her World No. 1 title to Elena Rybakina. However, the ultimate revenge would be to defeat Rybakina in this US Open final.
Sabalenka has looked dominant at this US Open so far. The return to New York seemingly clicked everything back into place for her. In the quarterfinals, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova pushed her to the brink in three sets. However, Sabalenka did not drop a set in any of her other five US Open matches.
Elena Rybakina Preview
Elena Rybakina is the new No. 1 player in the world. She dethroned Sabalenka after her long reign as the best woman on the planet. It is a deserved honor for Rybakina, as she started this year by beating Sabalenka in the Australian Open final. Rybakina is now a two-time major winner and a four-time major finalist. She would love to add a first career US Open title, which would make her just a French Open away from the career Grand Slam. Rybakina has been sharp at the US Open so far, but did drop the first set in both her quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina Pick, Best Bet
This is the second major final that these two have played each other in this year. Overall, it is their fourth meeting of the year, all four on hardcourt. While Elena Rybakina won the most important match, the Australian Open final, Aryna Sabalenka won the next two in Miami and Indian Wells.
These two greats have played each other a remarkable 17 times over the years. Sabalenka now leads that head-to-head 10-7. They have played each other in a lot of big matches, including two Australian Open finals. Each player has won one of those major final matchups. This should be another incredible match between two players at the very top of the game.
My best bet is on Aryna Sabalenka to cover the spread of -1.5 games. My prediction is that Sabalenka will win this final and complete the three-peat, getting revenge against the woman who stole her No. 1 ranking. It might require a grueling three sets, but Sabalenka should get it done. However, if there is to be one set where one player dominates and wins by a margin of three or four games, it is more likely to be Sabalenka.
That Australian Open result looms large in favor of Rybakina, but Sabalenka has beaten her twice since then, and should prove that she is still the best in the world on Saturday.
