Rybakina sets up US Open final showdown with Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina reached the US Open women’s singles final on Friday (September 11) with a comeback win over American Coco Gauff, setting up a blockbuster clash with defending champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Rybakina, the second seed, recovered from losing the opening set to beat Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium and book her place in Sunday’s final.

Gauff took control early, capitalising on break-point opportunities to claim the first set. Rybakina responded in the second, taking advantage of her opponent’s errors before breaking again in the deciding set to move 5-3 ahead. Gauff could not hold serve, allowing the Kazakh to close out the match.

“I just told myself to keep fighting and keep playing well,” Rybakina said after the match.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, advanced with a straight-sets victory over American Jessica Pegula, winning 7-5, 6-2 in the first semifinal.

The final will be the first US Open women’s singles championship match featuring the top two seeds since Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka met in 2013.

The stakes extend beyond the title: regardless of Sunday’s result, Rybakina will replace Sabalenka as world No. 1 when the rankings are updated, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top.

Sabalenka is chasing a third consecutive US Open title, a feat that would make her only the third woman in the Open Era to achieve the feat. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, beat Sabalenka in this year’s Australian Open final to claim her second Grand Slam title.

Sunday’s showdown offers Sabalenka a chance to complete a historic hat-trick — or Rybakina to add another major chapter to her rapidly growing Grand Slam résumé.