Eugenie Bouchard’s Rybakina Prediction Comes True at US Open 2026

Elena Rybakina’s US Open 2026 triumph has given Eugenie Bouchard an opportunity to celebrate her own prediction after the former Canadian player correctly backed the Kazakh to win the Grand Slam final in three sets.

Rybakina produced an impressive run through the tournament before facing Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match. The final lived up to expectations, with both players producing powerful tennis before Rybakina eventually prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Bouchard was among the first former players to publicly react to the result. She highlighted that she had predicted Rybakina would win in three sets earlier on the day and praised the world No. 1 for completing such a strong campaign despite an injury scare at the beginning of the tournament.

Bouchard reminds fans of her Rybakina prediction

Bouchard took to social media following Rybakina’s victory and expressed her admiration for the performance. She also pointed out that her prediction had proved correct.

The former Wimbledon finalist had backed Rybakina to defeat Sabalenka in three sets before the final began. With Rybakina eventually winning the deciding set 6-2, Bouchard’s prediction turned out to be accurate.

Her reaction was short but confident. Rather than simply congratulating the new US Open champion, Bouchard used the moment to remind tennis fans that she had correctly anticipated the outcome earlier in the day.

She also acknowledged the difficulty of Rybakina’s tournament, particularly because of the injury concern that had surrounded the Kazakh before her campaign in New York.

Rybakina completes remarkable US Open campaign

Rybakina’s road to the title included victories over several high-profile opponents. She came through challenges involving Coco Gauff, Qinwen Zheng and Naomi Osaka before meeting Sabalenka in the final.

The final itself showcased the strengths that have made Rybakina one of the most dangerous players on the women’s tour. Her serve and aggressive baseline game consistently put pressure on Sabalenka.

Rybakina took the opening set 6-4 after 44 minutes. Sabalenka responded in the second set and managed to save important break points before taking the set 7-5.

That forced a deciding set, but Rybakina regained control. She broke Sabalenka at 2-1 and then created another decisive advantage at 4-2 before closing out the match 6-2.

The victory secured another major title for Rybakina and confirmed her ability to handle pressure against one of the biggest names in women’s tennis.

Injury scare made Rybakina’s achievement more impressive

Bouchard specifically referred to the injury concern Rybakina faced before the US Open. Three weeks before the tournament, the Kazakh was forced to retire during her Cincinnati Open quarter-final against Iga Swiatek because of a left ankle and foot issue.

That retirement created uncertainty around her condition heading into the final Grand Slam of the season. However, Rybakina was able to compete in New York and gradually build momentum throughout the tournament.

Instead of allowing the earlier setback to derail her campaign, she produced a series of strong performances and eventually reached the final against Sabalenka.

Her ability to navigate the tournament and then win a demanding three-set final made the achievement particularly notable.

Rybakina beats Sabalenka in another Grand Slam showdown

The US Open final was another chapter in the growing rivalry between Rybakina and Sabalenka. Both players rely heavily on aggressive tennis, powerful serving and the ability to dictate points from the baseline.

Sabalenka showed her resilience by recovering from the opening-set loss and forcing a decider. The second set was especially important because she saved key break opportunities and eventually levelled the match at one set apiece.

Rybakina, however, did not allow the momentum to remain with her opponent. She started the third set strongly, secured the first break and maintained control until the finish.

The 6-2 deciding set demonstrated Rybakina’s ability to reset mentally after losing a set in which she had opportunities to finish the contest earlier.

Rybakina shows more emotion after US Open victory

Another aspect of Rybakina’s victory attracted attention from six-time US Open champion Chris Evert. The American tennis legend observed that Rybakina appeared happier and more emotional than she had in previous major victories.

Evert noted that the world No. 1 seemed particularly joyful while discussing the triumph after the final. She suggested that Rybakina appeared to be growing increasingly comfortable with her position at the top of the sport.

The reaction was significant because Rybakina has often been perceived as relatively reserved when celebrating major victories. Her post-match mood in New York appeared different to Evert, who praised the change and congratulated both finalists on the quality of the contest.

Rybakina’s emotional response therefore became an additional talking point alongside the tennis itself.

Billie Jean King congratulates Rybakina and Sabalenka

Billie Jean King also joined the former champions and prominent tennis figures congratulating the two finalists.

King celebrated Rybakina’s first US Open championship while also praising Sabalenka for her performance in what was a closely contested Grand Slam final.

The message recognised the efforts of both players rather than focusing solely on the champion. Sabalenka had fought back after losing the first set and pushed the final into a decider before Rybakina eventually took control.

Rybakina adds second Grand Slam title of 2026

The US Open championship is not Rybakina’s only Grand Slam success of the 2026 season. Earlier in the year, she won the Australian Open after defeating Sabalenka.

That means Rybakina has now captured two Grand Slam titles during the same season. Her victories in Melbourne and New York underline the consistency she has shown across the biggest tournaments of the year.

Winning both the Australian Open and US Open also means she has twice overcome Sabalenka on the Grand Slam stage in 2026.

The latest victory further strengthens Rybakina’s position among the leading players in women’s tennis and gives her season an impressive Grand Slam profile.

Why Rybakina’s victory matters

Rybakina’s US Open triumph is significant for several reasons. First, she successfully handled a difficult tournament after an injury-related retirement in Cincinnati. Second, she defeated multiple established players on her way to the title.

Most importantly, she managed to respond after Sabalenka levelled the final. Losing the second set could have shifted the momentum completely, but Rybakina produced her best response when the championship was on the line.

Her serving and aggressive approach remained effective in the deciding set, allowing her to create the breaks needed to pull away from Sabalenka.

The victory also adds another major championship to a season in which Rybakina has already demonstrated that she can perform consistently on the biggest stages.

Bouchard’s prediction adds another layer to the celebration

For Bouchard, Rybakina’s victory was not simply another Grand Slam result. It also provided confirmation that her pre-match prediction had been spot on.

Predicting a three-set victory in a final between two elite players is difficult, particularly when both opponents possess the power to change a match quickly. Rybakina’s 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory matched Bouchard’s predicted outcome.

Her comments also showed that she was impressed by how Rybakina managed the tournament despite the earlier injury concern. That makes the prediction more interesting because Rybakina’s condition had been a genuine question before the tournament began.

A relatively quiet reaction from the tennis world

Rybakina’s victory also generated an unusual observation around the immediate reaction from the wider tennis community. While Bouchard, Evert and King publicly congratulated the champion, the broader response appeared relatively quiet at first.

That does not diminish the significance of the victory. Grand Slam winners often receive widespread attention, but social media reactions can vary depending on timing and individual circumstances.

What stood out was the quality of the messages from prominent former champions and players. Evert focused on Rybakina’s emotional growth, King celebrated both finalists and Bouchard highlighted her accurate prediction.

Rybakina and Sabalenka rivalry continues

The latest Grand Slam final adds another major chapter to the Rybakina-Sabalenka rivalry. Both players have now repeatedly faced each other on the biggest stages, creating an increasingly familiar matchup for tennis fans.

The 2026 season has already featured their Australian Open clash, followed by their meeting in the US Open final. Rybakina won both Grand Slam encounters, although the latest match required her to recover after Sabalenka fought back to level the contest.

That pattern highlights the competitiveness between the two players. Neither was able to dominate the entire match, but Rybakina ultimately proved more effective when the deciding set arrived.

What’s next for Elena Rybakina?

After completing her US Open campaign with the title, Rybakina heads into the next phase of the season with two Grand Slam championships already secured in 2026.

Her performances in New York will also strengthen the belief that she can remain a major force at the top of women’s tennis. The biggest challenge now will be maintaining that level after another physically and mentally demanding Grand Slam run.

For Sabalenka, the final provides both disappointment and encouragement. She recovered from a set down and forced a deciding set, but could not maintain that momentum against Rybakina.

Final Verdict

Elena Rybakina’s US Open 2026 victory gave Eugenie Bouchard a chance to celebrate an accurate prediction after she had backed the Kazakh to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.

Rybakina eventually delivered exactly that result, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 after overcoming a strong fightback from Sabalenka. Her triumph came after a difficult build-up that included an injury-related retirement in Cincinnati.

Chris Evert and Billie Jean King also praised Rybakina after the victory, with Evert highlighting the champion’s unusually strong display of emotion. The US Open title is Rybakina’s second Grand Slam crown of 2026 after her Australian Open success, further establishing her as one of the leading forces in women’s tennis.