NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina refused to stay down after losing the opening set, rallying past Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a dramatic US Open semifinal to reach the championship match at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
The Kazakhstani second seed overcame a fast start from the American fourth seed before gradually taking control of the match with her powerful serve, aggressive groundstrokes and composure under pressure.
Rybakina’s comeback sends her into a blockbuster final against Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
The victory also adds another major milestone to Rybakina’s breakthrough 2026 campaign. She had already secured the world No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals and will officially take over the top spot when the new rankings are released Monday, becoming the 30th woman to reach No. 1 in WTA history.
Gauff strikes first
Gauff looked in control early.
The 22-year-old American, who entered the semifinal after an extraordinary quarterfinal comeback against Mirra Andreeva, took the opening set 6-3 and appeared poised to continue her run toward a second US Open title.
But Rybakina gradually found her rhythm.
The Kazakh began putting greater pressure on Gauff’s serve and groundstrokes while using her own serve as a major weapon. The shift allowed Rybakina to take the second set 6-4, forcing the match into a deciding third set.
Rybakina takes over in the decider
The momentum had clearly changed by the third set.
Gauff continued to fight, but errors—particularly from her forehand side—became increasingly costly as Rybakina maintained pressure from the baseline.
According to reporting from the Guardian, Gauff finished with 34 unforced errors, a statistic that became particularly significant as the match entered its decisive stages.
Rybakina eventually closed out the third set 6-4, completing a comeback that lasted more than two hours and securing the biggest US Open result of her career.
The win also extended a remarkable run for Rybakina, who arrived in New York having never previously reached the US Open semifinals. Her Grand Slam résumé already included the 2022 Wimbledon title and 2026 Australian Open championship.
From injury concerns to a Grand Slam final
Rybakina’s US Open run is particularly notable because her participation in the tournament had been uncertain after an Achilles injury scare during the North American hard-court swing.
Instead of slowing down, she has now put herself in position to win a third Grand Slam title.
Before defeating Gauff, Rybakina also had to fight back against Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. That victory secured her place in the semifinals and guaranteed that she would become the new world No. 1.
The official US Open statistics also showed just how effective Rybakina’s serve had been throughout the tournament: entering the semifinal, she had won 92% of her service games and 70% of her service points, leading the women’s field in both categories.
Gauff’s impressive run ends
For Gauff, the defeat ends an 11-match winning streak and her hopes of adding another US Open championship to the trophy she won in 2023.
Still, her tournament featured one of the most dramatic comebacks of the event.
Against Andreeva in the quarterfinals, Gauff saved two match points during the second-set tiebreak before fighting back to win 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. She had entered the semifinal with considerable momentum after also winning the Cincinnati title during the North American hard-court swing.
Gauff acknowledged the disappointment but remained focused on her development, saying after the loss that she believes she is continuing to make progress in her game.
Rybakina vs. Sabalenka: another major showdown
The final now sets up another chapter in the growing rivalry between Rybakina and Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, the tournament’s top seed and two-time defending champion, reached her fourth consecutive US Open final after beating Pegula. She is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win the US Open three years in a row.
Rybakina, meanwhile, will enter the final already assured of the world No. 1 ranking.
The two have also developed a significant Grand Slam rivalry. Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final, while their history includes previous major championship battles.
The stakes in New York are therefore enormous: Rybakina is chasing her first US Open crown and a second Grand Slam title of the year, while Sabalenka is chasing an extraordinary three-peat.
And after Rybakina’s latest comeback, one question now hangs over Flushing Meadows:
Can the new world No. 1 finish the job and dethrone the defending champion?
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