Aryna Sabalenka-Elena Rybakina US Open final is battle of the very best

The women’s Grand Slam season will end Saturday the same way it started.With Aryna Sabalenka taking on Elena Rybakina for a title. The World No.

1 facing the woman who will supplant her atop the rankings.The two-time defending U.S.

Open champ facing the biggest threat to her dynasty. “I want to go all the way,” Sabalenka said.“The mentality was just, I’m ready.

I’m ready for whatever it’s going to take to get the win. “It’s going to be [a] really tough match.She’s a big server.

She really improved over the years on the baseline game, so it’s going to be [a] physically and mentally tough match.But, as I said, I’m ready for the fight.

I’m ready to do everything to get the win, so I’m excited for that match.” Sabalenka has done nothing but win in New York for years. The big-serving Belarusian is the first player in the Open Era — male or female — to make eight straight hardcourt Grand Slam finals.But she’s never better than here. In Saturday’s final, she will go for the first three-peat at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams from 2012-14.

She’s riding a 19-match winning streak in the U.S.Open, unbeaten since losing the 2023 final to American Coco Gauff. Rybakina derailed a rematch by beating Gauff in one semifinal, while Sabalenka hammered American Jessica Pegula in the other. “I just love New York and I love being here, and I love the energy of the city.

That’s what drives me.That’s what really inspires me and pushes me to keep going,” said Sabalenka. “She’s in love with New York … hardcourts fit best for her game style,” said Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov, adding she’s added poise with age.

“Obviously much more mature … She’s much better with managing lots of things outside of the tennis court, and can separate much better than it was in the early [part] of her career.” Rybakina is gunning for her second major title this year after beating Sabalenka at the Australian Open.It’...