Elena Rybakina has made history at the US Open, securing her first Grand Slam title and ascending to the World No. 1 ranking. The 27-year-old emerged victorious in New York, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final, which marked a significant moment in her career. Rybakina's success at the tournament also made her the first singles player to qualify for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells for the upcoming November event, where she will defend her title.

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Just months before, during the BNP Paribas Open in March, Rybakina was still vying for the top position but faced setbacks, including a loss to Sabalenka in the final. Despite holding a championship point in that match, she was unable to secure the victory. However, her determination paid off in New York, where she not only claimed the title but also wrested the No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka after reaching the semi-finals.

“It's going to be very different to wake up knowing that I just won the US Open and achieved the No. 1 ranking,” Rybakina said. “It's kind of a relief... it's a lot of work.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming his second Grand Slam title within four months at the US Open, having previously won the French Open in June. He defeated American Ben Shelton in the final with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2. Zverev’s win was particularly satisfying following his loss in the 2020 final to Dominic Thiem.

“I think the scars of the 2020 final kind of disappeared after I won in Paris,” Zverev said. “Before winning in Paris, I felt a lot of stress all the time, because there was always a question mark: ‘Will I ever win one?’”

This year, Zverev has demonstrated consistent performance in major tournaments, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon. His success at the US Open has placed him at the top of the calendar-year PIF ATP Race to Turin.

The US Open also showcased significant achievements in American tennis. Coco Gauff claimed the women’s title, while both Gauff and Jessica Pegula reached the semi-finals alongside Rybakina and Sabalenka. In the men’s draw, Shelton's journey to the final made him the third Black American man to reach a major final, joining Arthur Ashe and MaliVai Washington. He also made headlines by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter-final that concluded at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in tournament history.

Frances Tiafoe also made strides by reaching the semi-finals for the third time, fighting back from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals. Both Shelton and Tiafoe now sit at career-high rankings in the PIF ATP standings, and both are strong contenders for the ATP Finals.

In doubles, Taylor Townsend and Katarina Siniakova completed a career Grand Slam by winning the women’s doubles title against Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery. In addition, Christian Harrison teamed up with Neil Skupski to win the men's doubles title. In junior events, Marcel Latak became the first American boys' champion since 2015, and Chukwumelije Clarke reached the girls' final in her debut at Flushing Meadows.