09/12/26 11:19:00
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09/12 11:17 CDT Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina meet for another major title
in the US Open final
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina meet for another major title in the US Open
final
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will finish the Grand Slam
season the way it started.
The top two women in the world rankings meet Saturday in the U.S. Open final,
where Sabalenka will try to become the first player to win three in a row since
Serena Williams from 2012-14.
Even if she does, Rybakina will pass her on Monday and become No. 1 in the WTA
rankings. Sabalenka has held the top spot for 99 consecutive weeks, but
Rybakina gained enough points to unseat her by reaching the semifinals in
Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina got a start on cutting into the deficit by beating Sabalenka in the
Australian Open final. The rematch Saturday makes this just the second time
since the Australian Open became a hard-court event in 1988 that the same women
will play in the finals of both tournaments. Stefanie Graf and Arantxa Sanchez
Vicario did it in 1994.
Rybakina also has won a Wimbledon title and is playing for her first U.S. Open
trophy. To get it, she has to stop Sabalenka's 19-match winning streak at
Flushing Meadows, where she hasn't lost since Coco Gauff beat her in the 2023
final.
Sabalenka won the two other meetings this season --- both on hard courts --- in
Indian Wells and Miami. She leads their rivalry 10-7.
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