Elena Rybakina arrived in New York unable to walk without pain after injuring her foot. She leaves the city as the US Open champion and new world number one.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina produced a brilliant performance to beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 in Saturday’s final and repeat her Australian Open success against the same player in January.
Clutching the trophy on Saturday night, Rybakina reflected that “some magic is happening” for her after her difficult lead-in to the tournament.
The 27-year-old aggravated a foot injury during her quarter-final in Cincinnati against Iga Swiatek last month, a little over a week before the final major of the year began.
Playing on through injury could have disastrous consequences for the rest of the season – but Rybakina, knowing the top ranking was in her grasp, wanted to try and play in the final Grand Slam of the year.
“I was so upset. I didn’t know actually how it was going to be day by day,” she said.
“We arrived in New York and did an MRI. It didn’t look that great.
“I couldn’t even walk for the next few days without pain.
“I was lucky enough to have a very good doctor in Australia. She was on the phone with us all the time and somehow, with the team, we made a plan.”
Rybakina did not do any on-court training for a week but daily recovery sessions in the gym – plus trips for dinner and to the cinema to “switch the mind” – helped get her ready for another major triumph.
She won her first four matches at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set, including seeing off four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
Her run from then on – which included beating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals, outlasting third seed Coco Gauff in the semis and outplaying top seed Sabalenka in the final – was nothing short of outstanding.
“I was so unlucky with the injury, but I’m very proud,” Rybakina said.
“I still can’t believe it.”
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