# Sabalenka vs Rybakina: the US Open final, and how to watch it free

> A three-peat bid, a No. 1 handover already locked in, and two ways to stream it without a cable bill.
- Title: Sabalenka vs Rybakina: the US Open final, and how to watch it…
- Summary: A three-peat bid, a No. 1 handover already locked in, and two ways to stream it without a cable bill. The final starts 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, and a DIRECTV…
- Keywords: us open, tennis, streaming, sabalenka, rybakina, news, entertainment, Open, final, watch, free, New York Post
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/12/sports/us-open-womens-final-how-to-watch-sabalenka-rybakina-for-free
- Published: 2026-09-12T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: us open, tennis, streaming, sabalenka, rybakina, news, entertainment
## Two weeks, one match left
The US Open women's singles title comes down to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against No. 2 Elena Rybakina, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing.

> Two weeks of competition have come down to this.
## Sabalenka chases a three-peat
She is the two-time defending champion, in her fourth straight US Open final. No woman has won three in a row in Queens since Serena Williams did it from 2012 to 2014.
## The No. 1 spot already changed hands
By reaching the semifinals, Rybakina passed Sabalenka in WTA points. When rankings publish Sept. 14 she takes the top spot, ending Sabalenka's 99-week run there, win or lose today.
## Seventeen meetings and counting
They have played 17 times since 2019, three of those this year. Rybakina beat Sabalenka for the Australian Open title in January; Sabalenka took the other two and leads the series 10 wins to 7.
## Start time and channel
The final begins today, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN. Without cable you need a live TV streaming service to get that channel.
## Two free or cheap ways in
DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial, and $30 off the first month; the Choice plan carries ESPN among 125+ channels. Just want today? A Sling TV Orange Day Pass is $4.99 for 24 hours.
## Key takeaway

The final starts 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, and a DIRECTV five-day free trial or a $4.99 Sling Orange Day Pass gets you in without cable.