In short
- Elena Rybakina beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open women’s semi-final in New York, recovering from a set down.
- Rybakina will play Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final and becomes world No 1 on Monday.
- Gauff, 22, finished the semi-final with 34 forehand errors, while Rybakina made 18 unforced errors in the first set alone.
- Sabalenka could become the third women’s player in history to win three consecutive US Open titles.
- Rybakina and Sabalenka have met three times this season: the Australian Open final, the Indian Wells final and the Miami Open semi-final.
Elena Rybakina beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open women’s semi-final in New York, recovering from a set down to reach her first final at the tournament. Rybakina, who becomes world No 1 on Monday, will play Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final.
What was the score in the Rybakina-Gauff semi-final?
Gauff won the opening set 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but Rybakina took the second 6-4 after the American had fought back from 1-4 down to 4-4. In the deciding set, Rybakina led 5-3 and served for the match; Gauff broke back, then lost her own serve as Rybakina closed out the set 6-4. Gauff finished with 34 forehand errors, while Rybakina made 18 unforced errors in the first set alone.
What did Elena Rybakina say after the match?
“I feel like the first set, it was still a good start, it was just one break,” Rybakina said in her post-match interview. “Coco is a great player. I took a deep breath, [was] trying to talk positive with myself.”
Rybakina said of the deciding set: “It was such a close third set and I felt like I was a little bit lucky on her serve.”
Who does Elena Rybakina play in the US Open final?
Rybakina faces Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Sabalenka holds the world No 1 ranking until Monday, when Rybakina takes it over. The pair have met three times this season: Rybakina won the Australian Open final in three sets, while Sabalenka won the Indian Wells final in a third-set tiebreak and the Miami Open semi-final in two sets.
What is at stake in Saturday’s final?
Sabalenka could become just the third women’s player in history to win three consecutive US Open titles. Rybakina could win her first title in New York; before this year, she had never advanced past the fourth round at the tournament.
How did Coco Gauff’s run end?
Gauff, 22, was playing her first US Open semi-final since winning the title in 2023. She had saved two match points in the quarter-finals against Mirra Andreeva the previous day. Her serve, the subject of discussion at the 2025 tournament, at times won her points and games this year rather than only keeping her in them.
New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby was in the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, along with Rami Malek, Common, Ciara, Robin Roberts and Michelle Obama.
What else is happening in world sport?
In golf, the Solheim Cup opens with Hull and Woad facing Korda and Corpuz.
At the Irish Open, McIlroy is four shots behind Niemann after a six-hour round.
Frequently asked questions
Who will play in the US Open women’s final?
Elena Rybakina plays Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final in New York, after Rybakina beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final.
How many forehand errors did Coco Gauff make in the semi-final?
Gauff finished the US Open semi-final with 34 forehand errors.
What is the head-to-head between Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka this season?
They have met three times this season. Rybakina won the Australian Open final in three sets, and Sabalenka won the Indian Wells final in a third-set tiebreak and the Miami Open semi-final in two sets.
Could Aryna Sabalenka win a third consecutive US Open title?
Sabalenka could become just the third women’s player in history to win three consecutive US Open titles if she beats Rybakina in Saturday’s final.
With reporting from The Guardian.
Stock image, not from the events described. Chicago Jazz Momentum — Rich Moffitt from Boston, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)