Elena Rybakina delivered a stunning performance in New York, silencing the home crowd and top‑seeded American Coco Gauff to secure a place in what promises to be a blockbuster US Open final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The Kazakh star rallied from a set down to defeat Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a tense semi‑final that showcased her resilience, power and tactical acumen. Sabalenka, meanwhile, had already clinched her own spot in the championship match by dispatching Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 earlier in the evening, moving one win away from a possible three‑peat at Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina’s comeback began after a dominant first set by Gauff, who broke early and held serve to take the opening 6-3 in front of a raucous crowd that included former First Lady Michelle Obama. The American’s heavy first serve and aggressive baseline play put the Kazakh under constant pressure, but Rybakina remained composed, breathing deeply and focusing on positive self‑talk, as she later explained in her post‑match interview. "Coco is a great player.
It’s always tough to play her," Rybakina said. "Even when her first serve falters, the second one is so heavy that it’s hard to dictate the rally.
I told myself to stay positive, fight, and play good tennis." The second set saw Rybakina capitalize on a few unforced errors from the fourth‑seeded American. She broke Gauff’s serve to level the match at 3-3 and then surged ahead with a series of powerful groundstrokes and a well‑timed serve that left Gauff scrambling. By the end of the fourth game, Rybakina was up 5-3, and she held her own serve to take the set 6-4, forcing a decisive third set.
In the final set, Rybakina continued to dictate play with her trademark power. She broke Gauff at 2-2 and built a 5-3 lead, putting the pressure squarely on the American. Gauff fought back, breaking Rybakina in the ninth game to narrow the gap, but the Kazakh responded with a clinical service game that gave her a match point. A decisive break on Gauff’s serve sealed the victory for Rybakina, who celebrated the win as a step toward her third Grand Slam title.
Gauff, visibly disappointed, reflected on the loss in a candid interview. "My dad came up to me and said I’d accomplished so many great things this summer, and I told him I don’t care about the summer," she said. "My goal is to be a consistent player and give myself as many opportunities as possible to lift a trophy. It hurts, but it’s a learning experience.
I’ll keep putting myself in positions to win." On the other side of the draw, Sabalenka displayed the same relentless power that has defined her season. She overpowered Pegula with 29 winners and seven aces, finishing the match with an unreturnable shot deep in the American’s court. Pegula, the third seed and 2024 runner‑up, started strongly, saving an early break point with a crisp forehand winner. However, a series of costly mistakes in the second set allowed Sabalenka to seize momentum, breaking at crucial moments and ultimately closing the match in straight sets.
Sabalenka’s victory adds another chapter to her impressive Grand Slam résumé. Since 1988, she has become only the fifth player to reach five or more Grand Slam finals while holding the world No.
1 ranking, joining the likes of Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis. The Belarusian is now entering her ninth major final, riding a 19‑match winning streak at the US Open and boasting a 36‑3 record at the tournament over the past five years. She described her current form as "confident, mentally strong and physically robust," earning the admiration of the partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Pegula, 32, remains eager for her first Grand Slam crown. She acknowledged the difficulty of facing a player of Sabalenka’s caliber in peak condition, noting, "I don’t know who pissed her off today – hopefully it wasn’t me, but it might have been. She played insane, at a super‑high level. Honestly, I don’t think there was much I could do today." The upcoming final between Rybakina and Sabalenka promises a clash of contrasting styles: Rybakina’s aggressive baseline play and tactical resilience against Sabalenka’s raw power and relentless pressure.
Both athletes have demonstrated the ability to dominate on hard courts, and their meeting could produce one of the most memorable US Open finals in recent history. For fans eager to watch the showdown, the US Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports beginning August 30. Viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app.
Additionally, tennis enthusiasts can catch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also available on Sky Sports. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the summer tennis season, with Rybakina and Sabalenka poised to write the next chapter of their Grand Slam legacies.