Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Rybakina Rallies Past Gauff to Reach US Open Final
Elena Rybakina played Coco Gauff in a US Open semifinal.
Gauff won the first set 6-3.
Rybakina then fought back and won the next two sets, both 6-4.
This comeback sent Rybakina to her first US Open final.
Aryna Sabalenka reached the final by beating Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka has won the US Open for the past two years.
Rybakina is set to become the new world No.
1 next week.
The final will be played on Saturday in New York.
Elena Rybakina defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Thursday’s semifinal.
Rybakina recovered after losing the opening set to reach her first US Open final.
Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Rybakina is guaranteed to replace Sabalenka as world No. 1 next week; one report describes her as already newly crowned.
Sabalenka will seek a third consecutive US Open title against Rybakina in Saturday’s final.
- Who
- Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
- What
- Rybakina defeated Gauff to reach the US Open final, where she will face Sabalenka, who beat Pegula in the other semifinal.
- When
- The semifinals were played Thursday, and the final is scheduled for Saturday.
- Where
- The matches were played at the US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.
- Why
- Rybakina advanced by winning the final two sets against Gauff, while Sabalenka defeated Pegula in straight sets.
- Rybakina-Gauff result
- Rybakina won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
- Sabalenka-Pegula result
- Sabalenka won 7-5, 6-2.
- Final matchup
- Rybakina will face two-time defending champion Sabalenka on Saturday.
- Ranking change
- Rybakina needed only to reach the semifinals to replace Sabalenka at No. 1 next week; one report calls her newly crowned No. 1.
- Rybakina’s 2026 major record
- She won the Australian Open earlier this year and is seeking her third Grand Slam title.
- Sabalenka’s US Open streak
- She has won 19 consecutive matches at the US Open since losing the 2023 final to Gauff.
- Historical milestone
- A Sabalenka victory would make her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2012-14 to win three consecutive US Open titles.
