Elena Rybakina Ends Coco Gauff’s US Open Run, Sets Up Final Against Sabalenka

During the US Open 2026 semi-final between Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, former first lady Michelle Obama was in the house cheering for the fellow American and the crowd favourite. But it was the Kazakhi player, and the new world number one, Rybakina who came on top.

Several American hearts that attended the Semi-final matches at the Flushing Meadows were broken twice as Rybakina came from behind after losing the first set to send the local girl Gauff home 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an enthralling match that lasted for a couple of hours.

Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, beat another American, Jessica Pegula. Rybakina who is now confirmed to take the world number one spot from Sabalenka will look to stop the Belarusian from completing a three-peat in New York and win the championship as well.

Speaking at the post match presentation ceremony, Rybakina said, “I felt like it was a great match, and of course, a lot of people wanted Coco to win. It is normal. I think everyone understands. In the beginning I felt like it was a very nice atmosphere, and only in the end when I was up in the third set did the crowd really support Coco. But I tried to focus on myself and tried to not listen.”

Gauff, who won the US Open title in 2023, after the loss to Rybakina said, “It hurts. Yeah, it is all great, but I think the competitor in me, this is the tournament I want to perform at. I mean, I did perform, but it is the one that you want to come out with a win.”

In the other semi-final, Sabalenka overpowered Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in straight sets to reach her fourth consecutive finals here. With her latest win in the semi-finals, the 28-year-old Belarusian took her winning streak in New York to 19 matches and she is now just only one victor away from completing a three-peat, a rare feat which only Serena Williams has achieved before.

After the win, Sabalenka said, “No complaints, I am super happy to be able to play such tennis. I was so desperate to win and I wanted it badly.” Pegula, the 32-year-old American, on the other hand, is still searching for her maiden win in a Major tournament and admitted that she faced an almost impossible task with Sabalenka in that mood. She said, “I don't know who pissed her off today. Hopefully it wasn't me totally, but it might have been, I don't know. She played insanely. She played super-high level tennis. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.”