First, Elena Rybakina took Aryna Sabalenka’s ranking.

Then, she took her crown.

Rybakina already was assured of supplanting Sabalenka as the world No. 1, win or lose. And she chose a win, a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory in Saturday’s U.S. Open final to snatch away Sabalenka’s opportunity to three-peat here in Flushing Meadows.

“It’s going to be very different to wake up [the] next morning knowing that you just won U.S. Open, achieved No. 1 ranking,” Rybakina said. “It’s a relief because you do all the routines for the past two, three weeks. It’s a lot of work, a lot of nerves also.”

Elena Rybakina hits a return during her three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka in their U.S. Open final match on Sept. 12, 2026 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Jason Szenes for NY Post

Poker-faced Kazakh Rybakina already had snapped Sabalenka’s string of 99 straight weeks atop the ranking and now has ended her run of 20 straight match victories in Queens.

She beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final to claim the first Grand Slam of the year, and did so again in New York to win the year’s last.

“[My run was] 99? Well, that’s amazing. Let’s see if Elena can beat me in that,” Sabalenka laughed before adding ruefully, “If she [can] continue to play like that, then yeah, I’m in trouble.”

Rybakina displayed an ironclad service game and steely nerves.

Sabalenka, by contrast, often lets her nerves get the better of her.

The volatile Belarusian was fighting not just Rybakina but herself. That proved one foe too many.

Meanwhile, Rybakina kept her poise and gutted out the title victory despite heel and ankle woes that forced her to default from last month’s Cincinnati Open.

She arrived in Flushing with questions about her health, then left with the trophy.

Aryna Sabalenka gives a frustrated reaction during her loss to Elena Rybakina in the U.S. Open final. Jason Szenes for NY Post

“It wasn’t the best time, for sure, because I was so upset. I didn’t know how it’s going to be, day by day,” Rybakina said. “We arrive to New York. We did MRI; it didn’t look that great. We had to talk with a lot of doctors to get [an] opinion [on] what we should do.”

She spent a straight week going from her hotel to the gym, spending three hours a day there.

A movie on her first day in New York, dinners to clear her mind, constant consulting with her doctor based in Australia.

In the end, it was enough — to get her healthy for the tourney and to get her past her rival.

Elena Rybakina celebrates after her win over Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S.
Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Jason Szenes for NY Post

These two have met 18 times, with 15 going to whoever took the first set. While Sabalenka has all three of the comebacks, there would be none Saturday.

Rybakina ensured that by winning 14 of 15 service games and hitting 12 aces — including on match point.

Sabalenka, who had won each of the past two U.S. Open titles, could only smash her third racket of the day.

Meanwhile, Moscow native Rybakina got her trophy from fellow Russian-born star Maria Sharapova to end a perfect night.

Elena Rybakina holds up her trophy after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Jason Szenes for NY Post

Rybakina was better from start to finish. She broke to go up 3-2 after Sabalenka double-faulted. The vexed Belarusian blasted a ball into the stands in frustration.

Somehow, Rybakina took the first set despite uncharacteristic wobbles on her first serve, taking advantage of Sabalenka’s groundstroke gaffes.

Sabalenka raised her game in the second set. Leading 5-4 with a double set point, she let Rybakina reel off four straight points to hold and knot the set.

The Belarusian eventually took the set 7-5 to force a third.

Aryna Sabalenka holds a towel over her face during her U.S. Open final loss to Elena Rybakina. Jason Szenes for NY Post

But the stoic Rybakina broke to go up 2-1, then held. Meanwhile, Sabalenka smashed a ball into the stands, followed by her racket.

“It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for three-peat. So I just wanted to let it go because, if I would hold it inside, [it wouldn’t go well],” Sabalenka said. “I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside.”

It didn’t help.

Brad Pitt and girlfriend Ines de Ramon watch the women’s finals. Jason Szenes for NY PostParis Hilton and friends take photos during a break in play during the women’s final. Jason Szenes for NY Post

With a break point up 4-2, Rybakina came up to the net for only the second time in the set for a forehand winner.

Sabalenka broke another racket in anger, and was helpless to keep Rybakina from serving out the match with an ace.

Other celebrities in attendance; comedian, Marcello Hernandez (white cap), singer, Pink (heart glasses), actresses Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams. Jason Szenes for NY Post