For Elena Rybakina, the celebrations in New York have barely begun and the next target is already clear. The Kazakhstani star’s third Grand Slam title has taken her one step away from a place in an exclusive chapter of tennis history, with Roland Garros now standing between her and a Career Grand Slam. Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 12, securing her maiden title in New York and her second Major of the 2026 season. The victory also moved her to the top of the WTA rankings, replacing Sabalenka at No. 1.
The final was another chapter in what is rapidly becoming one of the defining rivalries on the women’s tour. Rybakina produced 33 winners and 12 aces against the two-time defending champion, recovering from the loss of the second set to take control of the decider. More importantly, the result completed a remarkable Grand Slam year for Rybakina. She had already defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier in 2026, before adding the US Open trophy several months later. The pair have now played 17 times, with Sabalenka holding the overall advantage, but Rybakina has won their two Grand Slam finals this season.
The US Open triumph also carried added significance because Rybakina’s preparations for the tournament had been far from straightforward. She retired from her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek after five games with an Achilles issue on August 20. She subsequently spent a week away from her racquet before making her way to New York. Twenty-three days later, she was holding the US Open trophy. Her run included a three-set comeback against Coco Gauff in the semi-final, where Rybakina recovered from losing the opening set to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. That victory secured her place in the final and confirmed that she would become the new world No. 1 regardless of the outcome against Sabalenka.
Now, however, Rybakina’s attention has shifted towards the only Grand Slam missing from her collection. “It would mean everything to me because I think it’s such an achievement if you manage to win all four Grand Slams on different surfaces,” Rybakina told the CBS panel. “I don’t know how many people have done it. That is definitely my next goal, that is what I am going to try to do with my team. We will do everything for the next couple of years to try and make it happen.”
A Career Grand Slam requires winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open during a player’s career. Rybakina already owns Wimbledon from 2022, the Australian Open from 2026 and the US Open from 2026. Paris is now the missing piece. The challenge, however, is substantial. Rybakina has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. Her best results came in 2021 and 2024, when she reached the last eight. In 2026, her campaign ended dramatically in the second round when Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva defeated her 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) in two hours and 28 minutes.
That defeat makes her US Open transformation even more striking. At Roland Garros, she struggled for consistency against Starodubtseva, while in New York she repeatedly found solutions against high-level opposition. Rybakina’s Grand Slam journey is now entering a different phase. She is no longer chasing her first Major or attempting to establish herself among the leading players. With three titles secured and the world No. 1 ranking added to her résumé, the pursuit has become historical. On Sabalenka, against whom she has developed a fiercely competitive rivalry, Rybakina remained complimentary. “She has shown amazing results,” Rybakina said of the four-time Grand Slam champion on CBS Mornings. “She has been so consistent over the past few years, so I am super happy.
“I managed to win this big title and as I said, we have played throughout the year, so many times, and it’s always been a battle. Somehow for now it was going my way, but I’m sure I am going to play so many more matches with her.” The US Open final itself came down to fine margins. Rybakina explained that the key was finding ways to neutralise Sabalenka’s power and make the difference during crucial points. “I always speak with my team and come up with some kind of plan,” Rybakina said of her strategy in the US Open final. Since we know each other it was all about the returning. It’s a powerful game from the other side too, so we were trying to read some moments and make a difference in these key moments.”
Rybakina’s pursuit of Roland Garros is compelling precisely because Paris remains the one major question mark in an otherwise rapidly expanding Grand Slam résumé. Her game has already proved adaptable across hard courts and grass. Wimbledon was her breakthrough Major, while her two 2026 titles came on hard courts. Clay, however, has demanded a different kind of patience and point construction. Her record in Paris shows that the problem is not an inability to compete on the surface. She has twice reached the quarter-finals and owns a 17-7 record at Roland Garros according to the WTA’s official records.
The task now is to turn those deep runs into a title challenge. If Rybakina succeeds, she would join the select group of women who have completed the singles Career Grand Slam. Maria Sharapova was the most recent woman to achieve the feat, completing it at Roland Garros in 2012. For now, Rybakina can celebrate her breakthrough in New York. But the next chapter is already written in her own words. Paris is no longer simply another Grand Slam on the calendar. It is the final piece of the puzzle.
