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Elena Rybakina came from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the US Open final for the first time.
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The victory confirmed Rybakina’s status as the new world No. 1 after she secured the ranking earlier in the tournament.
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Aryna Sabalenka reached her fourth consecutive US Open final after defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2.
September 11, (THEWILL) – Rybakina and Sabalenka will meet in a final featuring two of the biggest forces in women’s tennis, with Sabalenka seeking a historic third straight US Open title.
Elena Rybakina has ended Coco Gauff’s run at the 2026 US Open and set up a heavyweight final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The second seed recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a tense semi-final at Flushing Meadows, extending a remarkable resurgence that has now taken her to the biggest match of the tournament.
Rybakina had already secured the world No. 1 ranking by reaching the semi-finals. She will officially take over the top spot after the tournament, becoming the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach No. 1.
For Gauff, the defeat brings an end to another deep Grand Slam run and leaves the United States without a women’s singles finalist at a major for the first time since 2006.
Gauff Starts Strong in Front of Home Crowd
Gauff looked in control early as she took the first set 6-3 in front of a supportive New York crowd that included former US First Lady Michelle Obama.
The 2023 US Open champion attacked confidently and capitalised on Rybakina’s early errors, putting herself within two sets of another appearance in the tournament final.
But Rybakina gradually found her range.
Rybakina Holds Her Nerve When It Matters
The decisive moments arrived late in the third set.
Rybakina broke Gauff to move 5-3 ahead and appeared to have the match under control, only for the American to immediately fight back and break to reduce the deficit.
With the pressure mounting, Rybakina had to serve for the match again.
This time she held her nerve, breaking Gauff once more before closing out the contest 6-4.
“There were nerves, of course”, Rybakina admitted after the match, explaining that she had to stay positive and take a deep breath when the pressure increased.
The victory was another indication of how far Rybakina has come during a season in which she has combined powerful serving with greater consistency in the biggest matches.
Elena Rybakina books her ticket into her first US Open final! pic.twitter.com/HBDTVBi16U
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2026
New World No. 1 Has Another Major Test
Rybakina’s run to the final completes one of the most significant ranking changes in women’s tennis this year.
Aryna Sabalenka had occupied the No. 1 position for 99 weeks, but Rybakina’s progress at Flushing Meadows means a new name will sit at the top of the rankings.
The 27-year-old has also demonstrated remarkable resilience after dealing with fitness concerns earlier in the season.
Her route to the final has now put her one victory away from adding a US Open title to her growing collection of major achievements.
But standing between her and the trophy is a player who has dominated this tournament in recent years.
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Sabalenka Keeps Her US Open Dynasty Alive
Sabalenka booked her place in the final earlier in the day by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2.
The Belarusian produced another powerful performance, hitting 29 winners and seven aces as she continued her extraordinary record at Flushing Meadows.
The victory was her 19th consecutive win at the US Open and sent her into a fourth straight final at the tournament.
Sabalenka has also won the last two editions and is now one victory away from joining Serena Williams and Chris Evert as the only women in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles.
Her overall US Open record over the past five years stands at an extraordinary 36 wins from 39 matches.
A Final Between Two Different Forces
The championship match will bring together two players who have taken very different paths to the final.
Sabalenka is chasing history and another chapter in her remarkable dominance at Flushing Meadows, while Rybakina is attempting to cap her rise to world No. 1 with another Grand Slam triumph.
Sabalenka leads their overall head-to-head record 10-7, including a 7-5 advantage on hard courts and a 2-1 edge in Grand Slam meetings. Rybakina, however, holds a 4-2 advantage in finals between the pair.
That history adds another layer to a final that already carries significant stakes.
For Gauff, meanwhile, the loss represents another difficult ending in New York. She said afterwards that her focus was no longer simply on one successful summer, but on developing the consistency needed to give herself more opportunities to win major titles.
Her next challenge will be turning another strong Grand Slam run into a title.
For now, however, the spotlight belongs to Rybakina and Sabalenka.
One is arriving as the new world No. 1. The other is attempting to make US Open history.
The stage is set for a final with both rankings and a place in the tournament’s record books at stake.
The Kazakhstani began to make greater use of her powerful serve and clean ball-striking, while Gauff struggled to maintain the level she had produced in the opening set.
Rybakina levelled the match by taking the second set 6-4, setting up a deciding set in which neither player was willing to give away much.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
