From struggling to walk to lifting trophy - how Rybakina triumphed

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 had dire consequences for the rest of her 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 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."