Rybakina Topples Gauff, Sets Up Sabalenka Three-Peat Showdown for US Open Crown
Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat Coco Gauff and claim the WTA's world No. 1 ranking, setting up a title clash with Aryna Sabalenka's bid to become the first three-peat champion since Serena Williams.
Elena Rybakina fought off an early onslaught from Coco Gauff and stormed back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Thursday night's US Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking a Saturday date with two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the women's title.
Gauff came out firing, winning the first set behind four aces to Rybakina's one, but her forehand unraveled in the second — she piled up seven unforced errors compared to two in the opener, according to Yahoo Sports. Rybakina broke twice across the final two sets to close it out, denying Gauff — the 2023 champion — a return trip to the final.
A new No. 1 heads into the final
The result carries weight beyond the scoreboard. By reaching the semifinals, Rybakina had already clinched the WTA's world No. 1 ranking, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign atop the tour regardless of how Saturday's final plays out, NBC Sports reported. It marks Rybakina's first career trip to a US Open final and her bid for a third Grand Slam title after her 2022 Wimbledon crown and this year's Australian Open win — a tournament in which she also beat Sabalenka.
"I definitely need to step my game up," Rybakina said of the task ahead against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka reached her fourth straight US Open final by routing Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 earlier Thursday and is chasing history: a win Saturday would make her the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-14) to capture three consecutive US Open titles, and would put her alongside Chris Evert in the sport's three-peat club. Sabalenka has now won 19 straight matches at Flushing Meadows since falling to Gauff in the 2023 final.
Saturday's final is also notable for the depth it represents — the tournament's top four seeded women all reached the semifinals for the first time since 1975, per Bleacher Report. Rybakina holds recent momentum in the rivalry, having beaten Sabalenka in this year's Australian Open final and at last season's WTA Finals, even though Sabalenka still leads their head-to-head series 10-7 overall.
The men's semifinals are set for Friday at Ashe, with Ben Shelton facing Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev taking on Karen Khachanov, setting up the men's final for Sunday, September 13. The women's final between Rybakina and Sabalenka is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.