New York (TIP): Elena Rybakina recovered from a slow start to overcome Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a gripping US Open semi-final on Thursday, September 10, and reach the championship match at Flushing Meadows for the first time. The Kazakh second seed, who will become the new world No. 1 irrespective of the outcome of Saturday’s final, weathered Gauff’s aggressive opening before taking control of the contest with her powerful serve and relentless baseline game.
Rybakina will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final after the Belarusian top seed defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the other semi-final.
The final brings together two of the most dominant players of the season and a repeat of their Australian Open final earlier this year. It will be Rybakina’s fourth Grand Slam final and her first at the US Open.
Gauff makes strong start
Playing in front of a partisan Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, the 2023 US Open champion Gauff made the brighter start. She broke Rybakina early and dictated much of the opening set with her movement and aggressive returns.
Rybakina struggled to find her rhythm and conceded the first set 6-3. But the Kazakh responded immediately in the second, tightening her game and putting greater pressure on Gauff’s forehand.
Gauff’s unforced errors began to mount as Rybakina found greater consistency from the baseline. The second seed secured the set 6-4 to level the match.
Rybakina takes charge
The momentum remained with Rybakina in the deciding set. Her serve became an increasingly important weapon, allowing her to dictate points and keep Gauff under pressure.
Gauff continued to fight and produced a late surge, but Rybakina held her nerve in the closing stages. She sealed the match 6-4 in the third set to complete the comeback.
Gauff finished with 34 unforced errors, with her forehand proving particularly vulnerable as the match progressed.
The victory also extended Rybakina’s remarkable record against American opponents. She remains unbeaten against American players in her career, according to reports following the semi-final.
Sabalenka stands in the way
Waiting for Rybakina in the final is a familiar rival in Sabalenka, who has dominated the US Open in recent years.
Sabalenka defeated Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach her fourth consecutive US Open final. She is now one victory away from completing a hat-trick of titles at Flushing Meadows, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014.
Sabalenka’s semi-final was another display of her aggressive power game. She produced 29 winners and seven aces and finished the match in 80 minutes.
The Belarusian has also won 19 consecutive matches at the US Open and will be bidding for her third straight title in New York.
New No. 1 versus defending champion
The final carries an added layer of significance because the world No. 1 ranking has already changed hands.
Rybakina secured the top ranking after reaching the semi-finals and will officially take over from Sabalenka. The title match, therefore, will pit the incoming world No. 1 against the defending champion.
The two have already developed one of the most compelling rivalries in women’s tennis. Their meetings this season have been closely contested, with the pair splitting their three matches, including finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
For Rybakina, Saturday offers an opportunity to add a second Grand Slam title to the Australian Open crown she won earlier this year. For Sabalenka, victory would put her in an exclusive group of women to have won the US Open three years in succession.
Zverev storms into US Open semifinals
Alexander Zverev powered into the semifinals of the US Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on Wednesday.The German fourth seed defeated the Dutchman 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the last four in New York. Zverev, who has now made 13 Grand Slam semifinals, controlled the contest with his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, giving his opponent little opportunity to settle.After dropping serve early in the second set, Zverev quickly recovered and tightened his grip on the match. He broke van de Zandschulp late in the set before dominating the third.Zverev will next face Karen Khachanov in the semifinal on Friday. The Russian advanced after Alexander Blockx retired while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.Zverev is chasing his first US Open title after finishing runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2020.
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