Elena Rybakina overturned a first-set deficit to defeat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a riveting US Open women's semifinal on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking a date with two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's title match.
The Kazakhstani, seeded second, was outplayed in the opening set as Gauff's aggressive returning and clean ball-striking gave the American crowd plenty to cheer about. But Rybakina tightened her serve and found her range from the baseline in the second set, breaking Gauff at a crucial moment to level the match.
The decider was a tense affair with both players trading early breaks before Rybakina found a decisive edge. She broke Gauff's serve at 4-5 in both the second and third sets, capitalizing on moments of hesitation from the fourth-seeded American to close out the victory in two hours and 12 minutes.
"I knew I had to stay patient," Rybakina said on court after the match. "Coco is an incredible player and she was playing at a very high level. I just tried to stay focused on my game and take my chances when they came."
The result carries significance beyond the final itself. Rybakina will officially become the WTA world No. 1 on Monday, regardless of the outcome against Sabalenka. It marks a remarkable ascent for the 2026 Australian Open champion, who has now reached her first US Open final and her fourth Grand Slam title match.
For Gauff, the defeat ends a strong run through the draw that included a dramatic quarterfinal win over Mirra Andreeva in which she saved two match points. The American will be disappointed to have let a commanding first-set lead slip, particularly after playing some of her best tennis of the tournament in the early stages.
Sabalenka, who earlier dispatched Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the first semifinal, will start as the slight favorite on Saturday. The Belarusian is chasing an unprecedented third consecutive US Open title and has been in dominant form throughout the fortnight.
The final promises to be a blockbuster clash between the tour's two most in-form players, with the added subplot of Rybakina attempting to dethrone the woman she will overtake at the top of the rankings.
Sources
- Sky Sport Tennis: https://sport.sky.it/tennis/2026/09/11/us-open-2026-semifinali-donne-risultati-oggi
- Global Tennis News: https://www.globaltennisnews.com/rybakina-gauff-us-open-2026-semifinal/
