Aryna Sabalenka lost the US Open women's singles final to Elena Rybakina 6-4 5-7 6-2 on 12 September 2026, ending her 19-match winning run at the tournament and her bid for a third straight title (wtatennis.com, 12 September 2026; cbssports.com, 12 September 2026).
The market resolves on the US Open official results (usopen.org), published at the end of the final on Saturday 12 September, or the WTA record (wtatennis.com). It resolves YES if either records Sabalenka as winner of the women's singles final; if the final is delayed, the market resolves on the day it is completed or awarded. If that source has not published in time, BBC Sport and Sky Sports settle it.
Only one of the last eight defending champions won the title again. That was Sabalenka herself, in 2025. Below is how each defence ended for the women who came back to New York as champion, newest first, from reports in the Guardian, BBC Sport and Al Jazeera.