Painful defeat fires up Aryna

NEW YORK (AFP) — Aryna Sabalenka, denied a third consecutive US Open title and toppled from the world No. 1 spot she had held for 99 weeks, vowed to come back stronger after a season of disappointment.

"I think overall I should be happy with the level I played, and there's lots of things to take from this tournament," said the 28-year-old Belarusian, who had looked more than capable of salvaging her Grand Slam season before she ran into the buzzsaw of Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina, already assured of ascending to No. 1 before they took the court for Saturday's final, triumphed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a dominant display.

It was a massive comedown for Sabalenka, who had looked at her powerful peak when she blew past world number four Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.

But for the first time since 2022, she will end the year without a Grand Slam title.

Rybakina beat her in the Australian Open final, and she fell in the quarter-finals of the French Open before a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon.

In fact, it has all been a slog for Sabalenka since she won the prestigious Indian Wells-Miami double in March.

"As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger, but definitely going to motivate me for the next year to do (a) better job."

Sabalenka was grateful for the support she received from the crowd on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court, who were willing her on as she clawed back a set against Rybakina and encouraged her even as the third set was slipping away.