“It was such a hard third set, it was a real fight,” Jelena Rybakina said after her victory.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was among those watching as Aryna Sabalenka and Jelena Rybakina advanced to the US Open women’s final, defeating American players Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff in the semifinals, bluewin.ch reported. Sabalenka, the reigning world No. 1, defeated Pegula 7-5, 6-2. Rybakina secured her spot in the championship match with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Gauff.
The Belarusian player asserted control after a tight first set. Pegula held serve until 5-5 in the opener and earned a break point, but Sabalenka’s powerful game shifted the momentum. She did not face another serious threat, closing out the match in just over an hour and a half.
Rybakina’s match against Gauff was a far more grueling affair. The American teenager pushed the Kazakh player to the limit in a deciding set. On match point, Gauff sent a smash long to end the contest. The three-hour, 14-minute battle tested Rybakina’s resolve, a fact she emphasized in her comments afterward.
A victory in the final would give her a third US Open title, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014. Sabalenka has already triumphed at the US Open in 2024 and 2025, putting her on the cusp of a third consecutive title.
The championship match will be a rematch of the 2024 final, which Sabalenka won. Rybakina faces the Belarusian in the final. “Sabalenka is an incredible player and played excellently in the semifinal,” Rybakina said, highlighting the task ahead. “I have to raise my own level.”
Pegula’s run in the tournament ended with her third defeat to Sabalenka in a Grand Slam. The American fell to Sabalenka in the 2024 final and the 2025 semifinal before bowing out once more this year.
The women’s final is scheduled for Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Both players have demonstrated their form and resilience, setting the stage for a compelling championship match.
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