MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 29: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates match point in the Women’s Singles Semifinal match against Jessica Pegula of the United States during day 12 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Getty Images
One day after ascending to world No. 1, Elena Rybakina backed it up.
The No. 2 seed came back from a set down to defeat No. 4 Coco Gauff, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her first U.S. Open final. Rybakina broke Gauff twice in a row to end the match.
Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, will face No. 1 seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Rybakina beat Sabalenka in three sets in the Melbourne final and then took the No. 1 ranking away from her by reaching the semifinals.
“I know you guys wanted Coco to win, and I think it was really a battle, and really it went my way,” Rybakina said on court. “I was just trying to still be focused, try to stay aggressive, and somehow won the match.”
No. 1 seed Sabalenka dominated No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-2, in the first semifinal for her 20th straight win at the U.S. Open.
Sabalenka leads the head-to-head with Rybakina 10-7.
“She’s unbelievable player and she was playing really well today,” Rybakina said of Sabalenka. “I definitely need to step my game up, serve much better, start to serve much better than today and stay aggressive….Just try to enjoy.”
There are no American women in the U.S. Open final but there is guaranteed to be one man. Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe meet Friday night in an all-American semifinal.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: Coco Gauff of the United States reacts against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women’s Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Serving at 3-4 in the decisive third set, Gauff netted a two-handed backhand to give Rybakina the break for 5-3.
But Gauff broke right back with a deep service return to Rybakina’s backhand for a winner.
On the first match point, Gauff missed an overhead deep and soon they were shaking hands at the net.
In the first set, Gauff broke for 4-2 when Rybakina couldn’t handle a deep service return and sailed a forehand wide.
Serving for the first set at 5-3, Gauff was all business and closed out the set at love.
In the second set, Rybakina broke for 3-1 when Gauff sailed a forehand long on break point.
But Gauff broke back for 3-4 when Rybakina netted a backhand off a deep shot from Gauff.
Serving to stay in the second set at 4-5, 15-40, Gauff netted a forehand and the match was headed to a third set.
Leave a comment