US Open: Elena Rybakina emphasised that she will have to unleash all her energy to try to topple the two-time defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka as the two gear up for the title clash on Sunday (as per IST).
Rybakina, the new World No.1 and two-time Grand Slam winner, is looking for her maiden US Open title and is in her first final in the Big Apple. She defeated American fourth seed Coco Gauff after being a set down in a thrilling two-hour and eight-minute clash to move into her first US Open final and fourth major final overall.
As she gears up for the final, Rybakina admitted that she would have to come with all the energy she has against Sabalenka. "We played many times; we practised also before, and she's a very aggressive player, Rybakina said in the press conference after her semifinal win.
"It's difficult to play with her mentally and physically because she has a big game, big serve, and I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and make the right decisions at the right moment because most of the time it's a tight score and this is where the decision makes a difference. So yeah, we will see what's going to happen, but I definitely will try my best and give it all," she added.
The two will face for the 18th time on WTA Tour, with Sabalenka leading 10-7. They will also meet for the third time in major finals, splitting the previous two. Rybakina and Sabalenka have previously met each other in the Major finals twice, with both those being the title clashes at the Australian Open. Sabalenka won the first one in 2023, while Rybakina avenged the defeat at the 2026 AO.
"It's difficult to play with her mentally and physically because she has a big game, big serve, and I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and make the right decisions at the right moment because most of the time it's a tight score and this is where the decision makes a difference. So yeah, we will see what's going to happen, but I definitely will try my best and give it all," she added.
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Sabalenka is looking to become just the third woman to win a three-peat at the US Open after Chris Evert and Serena Williams.