The US Open women’s singles semi‑finals will feature a rare gathering of the sport’s elite, as the tournament’s four highest‑seeded players have all advanced to the last four – a feat not seen at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009. Two‑time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is poised to take another step toward a historic third consecutive New York title when she meets familiar adversary Jessica Pegula, while Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina will square off against home‑grown favorite Coco Gauff in the other semi‑final, slated to begin at midnight on Thursday and broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Sabalenka, who has reached the US Open semi‑final stage for six straight years, now stands just two victories away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (who won three straight titles from 2012‑2014) to claim three back‑to‑back crowns in New York. The Belarusian entered the semi‑finals without dropping a set, having survived her toughest test of the tournament on Tuesday by edging Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in a tightly contested match.
Her opponent, third‑seed Jessica Pegula, is seeking her maiden Grand Slam trophy. The rivalry between Sabalenka and Pegula has become a staple of recent US Open narratives: Sabalenka denied Pegula the title in 2024 and then prevailed again in last year’s semi‑finals. Although Sabalenka leads their head‑to‑head record 9‑4, Pegula has won two of their last three meetings, most recently delivering a dominant 6‑0 final set in the Berlin Open semi‑final earlier this season.
"I think it’s fun to look at the rivalry we’ve had. She’s been a big part of my story these last couple of years," Pegula remarked, adding, "I’ve beaten her a few times on smaller stages, so overcoming her here will be a real hurdle." Sabalenka’s path to the semi‑finals has been complicated by a recent shift in the WTA rankings. After her quarter‑final win, Elena Rybakina overtook her to become world No.
1, marking the first time a Kazakh player will hold the top spot. Sabalenka, who had occupied the summit since October 2024, responded that she would gladly trade the ranking for another US Open title, stating, "I’ll be more than happy. Yes, a three‑peat sounds great." On the opposite side of the draw, Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Australian Open champion, will contest the semi‑final against fan‑favorite Coco Gauff. Rybakina’s run to this stage is her first semi‑final appearance at the US Open, and it comes after a thrilling quarter‑final victory that saw her claim the world No.
1 ranking. Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, earned her place by staging a dramatic comeback against fifth‑seed Mirra Andreeva, saving two match points in the second set before turning the match around.
That win secured Gauff a second consecutive Grand Slam semi‑final, following her deep run at Wimbledon, and she will have the enthusiastic New York crowd behind her as she aims for a second US Open crown. Gauff praised Rybakina’s form, saying, "Elena is playing some great tennis. Congratulations on becoming the new world No.
1 – that’s incredible." She also reflected on a recent encounter in Toronto that did not go her way, noting, "I just have to learn from that match. I know I’ll face aces and winners, but I’ll keep fighting and give it my all." Rybakina, meanwhile, is looking to add a third Grand Slam title to her resume and has a personal motive: she was bested by Gauff in three sets in the Canadian Open semi‑finals last month. "I expect a lot of people to support her," Rybakina said, "but I just need to stay aggressive. Coming into this tournament injured and with limited practice, I think we’ve come pretty far.
Now it’s the final push, and I want to enjoy it. Hopefully it goes my way." The two competitors are tied 1‑1 in their previous meetings, setting up a compelling clash for a spot in Saturday’s final.
The US Open coverage will continue on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the tournament’s atmosphere will be further amplified by live events such as the Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September. In summary, the semi‑final lineup showcases a historic convergence of the sport’s top talent: Sabalenka versus Pegula and Rybakina versus Gauff. Each match carries its own storyline—defending champion versus challenger, world‑number‑one versus home hero, and personal rivalries that have unfolded over the past few years. Tennis fans can expect high‑stakes, high‑quality play as these four athletes vie for a place in the US Open final and, potentially, a place in the record books.