Elena Rybakina mounted a determined comeback against Coco Gauff to advance to the US Open final, where she will confront Aryna Sabalenka in a marquee clash between the tournament's top two seeds. The semifinal matches took place on Thursday, September 10, with Sabalenka facing Pegula first on Arthur Ashe Stadium, followed by Gauff against Rybakina.
Rybakina's victory guarantees she will dethrone Sabalenka from the world number one ranking, a position the Belarusian has held for 99 weeks. The Kazakh second seed will assume the top ranking when the standings are updated on Monday, marking her first time at the summit. However, Rybakina has an opportunity to inflict further damage on Saturday's final by preventing Sabalenka from capturing a third consecutive US Open title.
The presence of all four top seeds in the semifinals represented a historic milestone. According to coverage of the tournament, this marked the first time the top four seeds had reached the last four at the US Open since 1975, and the first occurrence at any Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2009.
How did Sabalenka advance to the final?
Sabalenka overpowered American third seed Jessica Pegula with a commanding 7-5 6-2 victory to keep her pursuit of a third successive US Open title alive. The 28-year-old Belarusian, competing in her 14th career meeting with Pegula, demonstrated her dominance particularly in the second set, where she struck 29 winners compared to Pegula's 12.
The opening set proved tense, with Sabalenka initially struggling as unforced errors disrupted her rhythm while Pegula settled into the match and struck cleanly. Sabalenka eventually found her form, decisively breaking at 6-5 to claim the first set before accelerating through the second. Pegula appeared overwhelmed as Sabalenka unleashed her power game.
I was super desperate. It feels for me, talking about Grand Slams, like a last push of the season. I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way.
Sabalenka's path to the final came after a mixed run-up to the tournament. Following a strong start to the season that included winning the 'Sunshine Double' at Indian Wells and Miami in March, she suffered a quarter-final defeat at Roland Garros and a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon. However, she regained her form at Flushing Meadows, dropping just one set en route to the final.
The victory extends Sabalenka's extraordinary hard-court Grand Slam record. She is now the first player—male or female—to reach eight successive hard-court Grand Slam finals, a streak dating back to the 2023 Australian Open. For Pegula, the 32-year-old remains without a Grand Slam title and has now lost to Sabalenka in both of their previous US Open meetings, including the 2024 final.
I do think she probably would have beaten 99% of people. Probably the best match she's played this year.
How did Rybakina reach the final?
Rybakina fought back from a set down to defeat fourth-seeded Gauff 3-6 6-4 6-4, silencing the partisan crowd at Flushing Meadows. The 27-year-old Kazakh player, who had never previously advanced past the fourth round at the US Open, delivered a gritty performance to overcome the American.
I took a deep breath and just told myself I needed to fight and show good tennis.
Rybakina's semifinal victory came after she secured the world number one ranking in her quarterfinal match. According to reports from the tournament, she defeated Zheng Qinwen in three sets to clinch the top ranking for the first time in her career. Gauff had reached the semifinals after saving two match points against Mirra Andreeva and rallying from a set down in that quarterfinal encounter.
The 27-year-old is pursuing her third Grand Slam title after winning Wimbledon in 2022 and defeating Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January. Rybakina and Gauff have split their past head-to-head meetings 1-1, according to head-to-head records.
What is the historical significance of this final?
The matchup between Sabalenka and Rybakina marks the first time the top two women's seeds have contested a US Open final since Serena Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in the 2013 showpiece. This final represents a significant moment in women's tennis, with both players among the sport's elite competitors.
Sabalenka has not tasted defeat in New York since losing the 2023 final to Gauff, demonstrating her dominance at the venue. Her bid for a third consecutive title would place her among an exclusive group of women in the Open era to achieve that feat.
What happens next?
The women's final is scheduled for Saturday, September 12. According to the tournament schedule, the semifinals on Thursday featured Sabalenka versus Pegula at 7:00 p.m. ET and Gauff versus Rybakina at 8:10 p.m. ET. The championship match will determine whether Sabalenka captures her third consecutive US Open title or whether Rybakina can claim her third Grand Slam crown while simultaneously ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign atop the world rankings.
