The US Open women's semifinals promise a thrilling encounter as the tournament’s four highest‑ranked players converge on Flushing Meadows. Two‑time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will look to edge closer to an unprecedented third consecutive title when she meets familiar adversary Jessica Pegula, while Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina will take on home‑grown favorite Coco Gauff in the other semifinal. Both matches are scheduled for Thursday at midnight and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. This is the first occasion since Wimbledon 2009 that all four top seeds have advanced to the semifinal stage of a Grand Slam.
The quartet—Sabalenka, Rybakina, Gauff and third‑seed Pegula—represents a blend of experience and ambition: Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff have already lifted major trophies, whereas Pegula, seeded third, is hunting her inaugural Grand Slam crown. Sabalenka’s consistency is remarkable; she has reached the US Open semifinals for six straight years. A win in the next round would place her just two matches away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (who achieved a three‑peat from 2012 to 2014) to claim three straight titles at Flushing Meadows.
Despite her dominance, Sabalenka entered the tournament without having dropped a set, only facing a stern test on Tuesday when she narrowly defeated Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. In the upcoming semifinal, Sabalenka will confront Jessica Pegula, a rivalry that has unfolded on the same courts for three consecutive years. Sabalenka denied Pegula the championship in 2024 and again prevailed in last year’s semifinal. Their head‑to‑head record currently stands at 9‑4 in Sabalenka’s favour, yet Pegula has won two of their last three meetings, including a decisive 6‑0 third set victory in the Berlin Open semifinal earlier this season.
Pegula reflected on the rivalry, saying, "I think it’s fun to look at the rivalry we’ve had. She’s got to me here the last couple of years.
I have been able to beat her a few times, maybe on a smaller stage, so I think that’s a hurdle I need to get over." Meanwhile, Sabalenka will head into her semifinal after relinquishing the world No. 1 ranking to Rybakina, who secured the top spot with a quarter‑final win over Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng. Rybakina’s ascent makes her the 30th woman ever to claim the WTA No. 1 ranking and the first player from Kazakhstan to do so.
Sabalenka, who had held the ranking since October 2024, responded with characteristic confidence: "I’ll be more than happy. Yes, three‑peat.
Sounds great." The presence of the top four seeds in the semifinals is a rarity; it has only happened once before at the US Open in the Open Era (1975) and not since Wimbledon 2009. This historic convergence underscores the depth and stability of the current women’s game. On the opposite side of the draw, Elena Rybakina will meet American fan‑favorite Coco Gauff. Rybakina, seeking her first US Open title and a third Grand Slam overall, earned her semifinal berth by defeating the fifth seed and fellow French Open champion Mirra Andreeva in a dramatic comeback.
After trailing in the second set and facing two match points, Rybakina rallied to win, showcasing the resilience that has become her trademark. Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, entered the semifinals after surviving a tense battle against Andreeva. Her victory marked her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance, following a run to the final four at Wimbledon.
With the home crowd behind her, Gauff hopes to capture a second US Open crown. She praised Rybakina’s form, stating, "Elena is playing some great tennis. Congrats to her for being the new world No. 1 or will be the new World No.
1. I think that’s incredible. We played each other in Toronto.
That didn’t go my way, so I think I just have to learn from that match. I know I’m going to have some aces hit on me and some winners hit on me, but I’m going to keep fighting and give it my all." Rybakina, for her part, acknowledges the challenge of facing a crowd favorite. "I will expect that a lot of people are going to support her," she said. "I just need to stay aggressive.
I think from where I was coming to this tournament, being injured and not practicing, we came pretty far. Now we just have a last push and it’s important to still enjoy.
Hopefully it’s going to go my way." The two players are tied 1‑1 in their previous meetings, with each having secured a win in their most recent encounters. Their semifinal clash will determine who advances to the final on Saturday, where a US Open title and, potentially, a historic three‑peat or a first Grand Slam for Pegula await. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and even a live broadcast of the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27.
The stage is set for a memorable conclusion to one of tennis’ most prestigious events.