Elena Rybakina managed to silence the home crowd and halt Coco Gauff's run, securing a place in what promises to be a blockbuster US Open final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who had just dispatched Jessica Pegula. The Kazakh star rallied from a set down to defeat the American favourite in a hard‑fought semi‑final, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, keeping her hopes alive for a third Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows. The evening’s action began with Gauff taking the opening set 6-3, capitalising on a series of early errors from Rybakina and serving with the confidence of a player buoyed by the enthusiastic New York crowd, which even featured former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Gauff’s powerful first serve set the tone, but when it missed, her second serve proved heavy and difficult for Rybakina to read, allowing the American to dictate several rallies. Despite the pressure, Rybakina stayed composed, breathing deeply and focusing on positive self‑talk, as she later explained in her post‑match interview.
Rybakina’s resilience paid off in the second set. The Kazakh turned the tide by exploiting a few sloppy moments from the fourth‑seeded Gauff, breaking serve to take a 5-3 lead.
With her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play, she forced errors and built momentum. Gauff fought back, breaking Rybakina once to stay in the match, but the Kazakh’s consistency on serve and her ability to hit deep, unreturnable shots gave her the edge. In the final set, Rybakina surged ahead, breaking at 5-3 and then serving out the match to claim the victory and a ticket to the championship match. After the win, Rybakina reflected on the challenge of facing Gauff, noting, "Coco is a great player.
It's always tough to play her. Even when her first serve is off, her second serve is so heavy it’s difficult to dictate the rallies. I took a deep breath, tried to stay positive, and just told myself to fight and play good tennis." Her calm demeanor contrasted with the emotional intensity of the crowd, who cheered both competitors throughout the three‑hour encounter. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the draw, Aryna Sabalenka delivered a dominant performance against Jessica Pegula.
The Belarusian, the top seed and defending champion, unleashed a barrage of power, hitting 29 winners and serving seven aces. She broke Pegula’s serve at crucial moments, including a decisive break on match point, to close the match in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Sabalenka’s aggressive style and relentless pressure left Pegula scrambling, and despite a solid start that saw her save an early break point with a crisp forehand winner, the American could not sustain her level against Sabalenka’s relentless firepower. Sabalenka, who is chasing a historic three‑peat at the US Open, spoke after her win about the mental and physical strength she feels at this stage of the tournament.
"I can say that I feel confident and I feel mentally and physically really strong right now," she said, earning applause from the partisan fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her performance adds to an impressive résumé: she is now the fifth player in the Open Era to reach five or more Grand Slam finals while holding the world No.1 ranking, joining legends such as Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis. Sabalenka’s record at the US Open over the past five years stands at 36‑3, and she currently rides a 19‑match winning streak in New York. Pegula, a 32‑year‑old who has yet to claim a Grand Slam title, acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead.
"I don't know who p***** her off today – hopefully it wasn't me totally, but it might have been – I don't know. She played insane.
She played a super‑high level," she said, expressing admiration for Sabalenka’s play while conceding that her own options were limited against the Belarusian’s relentless attack. The final now pits Rybakina’s tactical resilience against Sabalenka’s raw power. Both players have demonstrated the ability to adapt under pressure: Rybakina by weathering a set deficit and turning the match around with aggressive shot‑making, and Sabalenka by maintaining a high level of intensity throughout her semi‑final, never allowing Pegula to find a rhythm. Tennis analysts predict a clash of styles that could produce a classic final, with Rybakina looking to use her variety and footwork to counter Sabalenka’s booming forehand and serve.
Beyond the on‑court drama, the US Open continues to draw a massive global audience. The tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, and fans can also stream matches without a contract via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. The event’s popularity is underscored by the presence of high‑profile spectators, the buzz on social media, and the growing interest in women’s tennis worldwide. As the final approaches, both competitors will likely focus on recovery and strategy.
Rybakina may look to sharpen her return game and continue exploiting any inconsistencies in Sabalenka’s serve, while Sabalenka will probably aim to keep her aggressive baseline play and maintain the high first‑serve percentage that has served her so well throughout the tournament. The stakes are high: a victory for Rybakina would mark her second Grand Slam title, while Sabalenka would become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win three consecutive US Open crowns. Regardless of the outcome, the match promises to deliver high‑quality tennis, showcasing the depth of talent in the women’s game and providing fans with a memorable conclusion to one of the sport’s most prestigious events.