New York: World No. 2 Elena Rybakina said she will look to remain aggressive and prevent Aryna Sabalenka from dictating play when the two meet in the US Open women’s singles final on Sunday.
Rybakina, who will face the top seed and two-time defending champion at Arthur Ashe Stadium, said the key would be to stay on top of the rallies and make the most of important moments.
“We know each other pretty well and have played so many times against each other. Yeah, just try to stay aggressive in important moments, not wait for her to dictate the point, and try to stay on top of the rallies,” Rybakina said in an interview shared by JioStar.
The final will be the 18th meeting between the two, with Sabalenka holding a 10-7 advantage. It is also the first US Open women’s singles final between the top two seeds in 13 years.
Rybakina reached the final after overcoming 2023 champion Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals. The 27-year-old revealed that she had been uncertain about competing in New York because of a foot problem and was still managing the issue during her opening matches.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent sure if I was going to be able to even play this tournament,” she said, adding that her focus gradually shifted from her fitness concerns to improving her performance on court.
Rybakina was pushed to three sets in both her quarterfinal and semifinal and admitted she had to rely heavily on her mental and physical strength after entering the tournament without a full week of practice.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, advanced to her fourth consecutive US Open final after beating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2. She became the first player since Serena Williams from 2011 to 2014 to reach four straight finals in New York.
Sabalenka is chasing her fifth Grand Slam title and a historic third consecutive US Open crown, while Rybakina will seek to add the New York title to her Australian Open triumph and strengthen her bid for the world No. 1 ranking.
