Rybakina Stuns Gauff, Sets Up Sabalenka Final

The update

Elena Rybakina silenced home favorite Coco Gauff and the New York crowd to advance to the US Open final, defeating the American 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a tense semifinal showdown. Earlier, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to set up a blockbuster title match.

Why it matters

Rybakina’s victory not only ends Gauff’s title bid but also secures the world No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka. The final represents a potential changing of the guard at Flushing Meadows, with Sabalenka seeking her third consecutive title while Rybakina looks to add a second Grand Slam to her Australian Open win.

What to watch

The final will feature the top two players in women’s tennis, with Rybakina currently ranked No. 2 and set to overtake Sabalenka. The Kazakh star will look to capitalize on her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, while Sabalenka aims to continue her dominance at Flushing Meadows. Rybakina’s ability to handle Sabalenka’s heavy serve and powerful groundstrokes will be crucial, as will Sabalenka’s experience in championship matches at the US Open.

Sources

• skysports.com — match details and Rybakina's post-match comments
• espn.com — ranking implications and Sabalenka's perspective
• dpa international — crowd atmosphere and match context