US Open 2026: Rybakina Stuns Gauff, Sets Up Final Clash With Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina rallied past Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the US Open final, where she will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a showdown between two of women’s tennis’ top players.

Rybakina is already assured of becoming the new world No. 1 next week. She will now aim to add the US Open title to her Australian Open triumph and deny Sabalenka a third consecutive championship in New York.

Sabalenka booked her place in the final earlier Thursday by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the first semifinal. After a closely contested opening set, the Belarusian pulled away in the second.

“No complaints,” Sabalenka said. “I’m just super happy that I was able to pull out such tennis.”

Rybakina Holds Off Gauff Comeback

The second semifinal was a much tighter contest. Gauff took the opening set, but Rybakina responded by winning the next two sets and held off the American’s attempts to force a comeback.

The second-seeded Rybakina had already strengthened her claim to the No. 1 ranking by winning the Australian Open earlier this year. Sabalenka’s struggles during the summer allowed Rybakina to close the gap in the rankings.

Rybakina needed only to reach the semifinals in New York to overtake Sabalenka, who had occupied the top ranking for 99 consecutive weeks.

She also defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open and will be seeking her third Grand Slam title in Saturday’s final.

Sabalenka Chases Third Straight US Open Title

Gauff won her first Grand Slam title as a teenager after beating Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final. Since then, however, Sabalenka has remained unbeaten at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka defeated Pegula with an emphatic display on Thursday, hitting 29 winners to her opponent’s 12. She has now won 19 consecutive matches at the US Open since her defeat by Gauff in the 2023 final.

The Belarusian will need one more victory to become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014 to win three consecutive US Open titles.

Historic Women’s Semifinals

The US Open women’s semifinals featured the top four seeds for the first time since 1975.

Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff have all won multiple Grand Slam titles, while Pegula continues to chase her first major championship.

Saturday’s final will therefore pit Rybakina’s bid for a third Grand Slam title and the world No. 1 ranking against Sabalenka’s attempt to complete a historic three-peat in New York.