Elena Rybakina advanced to her first US Open final at Flushing Meadows by overcoming Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a tense semifinal encounter, according to Yahoo Sports. With the victory, Rybakina is set to claim the WTA’s No. 1 ranking, replacing Aryna Sabalenka, who had held the top spot for 99 consecutive weeks, as reported by ESPN.
Elena Rybakina Ends Coco Gauff’s US Open Run to Reach Final and Claim No. 1 Ranking
Gauff controlled the opening set with four aces, just one double-fault, and seven unforced errors to win 6-3, backed by the New York crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. However, Gauff’s standards slipped in the second set with three double-faults and 14 unforced errors, allowing Rybakina to capitalize and level the match. In a tightly contested third set, Gauff produced a heroic hold at 3-3 and later broke back from the brink of elimination, but unforced errors—including a missed volley past the baseline when facing two match points—ultimately proved costly.
I thought it was a good match, and it honestly came down to a couple of service games of mine in both sets, and I didn’t quite hold,
Gauff said in her post-match press conference, according to ESPN. Rybakina acknowledged her opponent’s serving pressure and admitted fortune favored her during the closing stages, stating via AOL, Even if sometimes her first serve doesn’t go, the second is so heavy. I just told myself I needed to fight and show good tennis.
Championship Match Set Against Aryna Sabalenka
Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match at Flushing Meadows, marking their second meeting in a Grand Slam final this year following the Australian Open, as detailed by Yahoo Sports. Sabalenka secured her place in the final by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the first semifinal, running away with the second set after pounding 29 winners. Sabalenka is bidding to become the third woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open titles, following Serena Williams and Chris Evert.
According to data from Opta Ace cited by Yahoo Sports, this final marks just the second time since the Australian Open switched to hard courts in 1988 that the same pair has met in both the Australian and US Open finals in a single season, echoing Steffi Graf and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1994. While Sabalenka is pursuing her fifth Grand Slam title, Rybakina is seeking her third major singles title and her second of the season.
Coco Gauff Looks Ahead to the 2027 Season
Following her semifinal exit as the final American remaining in the women’s singles draw, Gauff reflected on her immediate schedule and long-term outlook. In her press conference, she outlined plans to play in China and attempt to qualify for the WTA Finals, noting that those events serve as preparation for the following season. I am just looking towards next year,
Gauff said, according to Yahoo Sports, adding that her focus remains on figuring out off-season improvements. Gauff holds 1390 WTA points to defend during the Asian swing following her success at the Wuhan Open and China Open in 2025.
