Story perspectives

Sabalenka vs Rybakina Set US Open Final, Rybakina No.1

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 6:08 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Sabalenka vs Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka will meet Elena Rybakina in the US Open women’s final on Saturday, September 12 at 4 pm local time.
Elena Rybakina will become world No. 1 on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign.
The champion will earn $5.5 million.
The runner-up will receive $2.8 million.
Aryna Sabalenka holds a 19-match US Open winning streak, a tournament-record.

Summary

Coco Chant

Crowd repeatedly chanted “Co-co! Co-co!” and pleaded “Come on, Coco!” during Coco Gauff’s semifinal match.
Umpire answered the rowdy chanting with a bemused “Thank you…” after a loud moment.
Elena Rybakina said “I know you guys wanted Coco to win” in post-match comments, acknowledging bias.
Media seats were moved from the lower bowl to new luxury areas, altering the viewing experience.
Fans left the stadium quickly after Coco Gauff’s loss, showing collective disappointment.

History

Historical Context

In 1973, the US Open became the first Grand Slam to award equal prize money to men and women, a decision championed by Billie Jean King. The tournament’s organizers, the United States Tennis Association, allocated $25,000 to each champion, a sum that represented a 150 % increase over the previous year’s women’s payout. Today, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina contest the 2024 US Open final, where the winner will claim $5.5 million and the runner-up $2.8 million, echoing the event’s prize-money evolution. The amplified payouts and ranking stakes intensify fan partisan chants, as seen with Coco Gauff’s supporters, and signal the tournament’s growing economic influence on tennis.

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Sabalenka vs Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka will meet Elena Rybakina in the US Open women’s final on Saturday, September 12 at 4 pm local time.
Elena Rybakina will become world No. 1 on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign.
The champion will earn $5.5 million.
The runner-up will receive $2.8 million.
Aryna Sabalenka holds a 19-match US Open winning streak, a tournament-record.

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