The US Open reaches a dramatic crescendo as the tournament’s four highest‑seeded women prepare to battle for a place in the championship match. Two‑time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will look to edge one step nearer to a historic third consecutive title when she meets familiar adversary Jessica Pegula, while Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is slated to face home‑grown favorite Coco Gauff in the other semi‑final on Thursday, broadcast live from midnight on Sky Sports Tennis.
For the first time since Wimbledon in 2009, every top seed at a Grand Slam has advanced to the semi‑final stage. The quartet—Sabalenka, Rybakina, Gauff and third‑seed Pegula—represents a blend of seasoned major winners and an eager challenger on the cusp of her first Grand Slam crown. Sabalenka, who has reached the US Open semi‑finals for six straight years, now stands just two victories away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (who achieved a three‑peat from 2012 to 2014) to claim three back‑to‑back titles in New York.
Sabalenka’s path to this point has been remarkably smooth; she entered the tournament as the top seed and had not dropped a set until Tuesday, when she survived a tight three‑set duel against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. The Belarusian’s next opponent will be third‑seed Jessica Pegula, a player she has faced repeatedly at Flushing Meadows. Their rivalry dates back three years, with Sabalenka denying Pegula the championship in 2024 and then prevailing again in last year’s semi‑finals. Although Sabalenka leads their head‑to‑head record 9‑4, Pegula has captured two of their last three meetings, including a decisive 6‑0 third set win in the Berlin Open semi‑final earlier this season.
"I think it's fun to look at the rivalry we've had. She's got to me here the last couple of years," Pegula remarked after her recent Berlin triumph. "I have been able to beat her a few times, maybe on a smaller stage, so I think that's going to be kind of a hurdle for me to get over." Meanwhile, Sabalenka enters the semi‑final after surrendering the world No. 1 ranking to Rybakina, who clinched the top spot with a quarter‑final victory over Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng.
That win makes Rybakina the 30th woman ever to top the WTA rankings and the first player from Kazakhstan to do so, a milestone that will be confirmed when the new rankings are released following the tournament. Sabalenka, who had held the number‑one position since October 2024, said she would gladly trade the ranking for another US Open title. "I'll be more than happy," she said. "Yes, three‑peat.
Sounds great." The convergence of the top four seeds in a Grand Slam semi‑final is a rarity, occurring only once before at the US Open in 1975 and previously at Wimbledon in 2009. This historic alignment underscores the depth and consistency of the current women’s field.
On the opposite side of the draw, Elena Rybakina will meet fan‑favorite Coco Gauff, who staged a remarkable comeback against fifth‑seed Mirra Andreeva, a fellow French Open champion. Gauff was on the brink of defeat in the second set, saving two match points before turning the tide and securing her place in the semi‑finals. That victory marks her second consecutive Slam semi‑final appearance, following her run to the Wimbledon final earlier this year, and she will enjoy the support of a home crowd eager to see her capture a second US Open crown. "Elena is playing some great tennis," Gauff praised after the match.
"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, seeking her third Grand Slam title, will also be motivated by recent history: she defeated Gauff in three sets at the Canadian Open semi‑finals just last month.
Speaking about the upcoming clash, Rybakina said, "I will expect that a lot of people are going to support her. I just need to stay aggressive. I think from where I was coming to this tournament, being injured and not practicing, I think we came pretty far.
Now we just last push and important to still enjoy. Hopefully it's going to go my way." The two have split their previous encounters 1‑1, setting the stage for a tightly contested semi‑final that will decide who advances to Saturday’s final. Both players understand the stakes: a win for Rybakina could cement her ascent to world No. 1 and add a third major to her résumé, while Gauff hopes to avenge her recent loss and secure a second US Open trophy on home soil.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports beginning August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app, and even a chance to watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September. The semi‑finals promise high‑quality tennis, intense rivalries, and the potential for historic achievements as the world’s elite women compete for a place in the US Open final.