5 min readSep 11, 2026 07:44 PM IST
Elena Rybakina on the left and Aryna Sabalenka on the right. (AP photo)All wasn’t well with Aryna Sabalenka before she reached New York last month. Early exits at Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati preceded her three-peat bid. She said it “wasn’t the best period” and that she’s “been dealing with several things”. A fortnight later, things seem dealt with.
Her 7-5, 6-2 semifinal dismantling of home favourite Jessica Pegula bore proof. Sabalenka was flawless in the second set, leaving Pegula with no breathing room. The ousted third seed assessed it succintly: “I do think she probably would have beaten 99% of people… Probably the best match she’s played this year.”
Come Saturday, even Sabalenka’s best could face a stern test. Her opponent Elena Rybakina is out to set her record straight.
