Rybakina knocks off Gauff Elena Rybakina is headed to the championship match of the U.S. Open after edging Coco Gauff tonight in the semifinals. Gauff won the first set 6-3 before Rybakina fought back to win the final two sets 6-4, 6-4. On Saturday, Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka, who will be playing for her third straight U.S. Open title. Share your views in the Discuss tab or via email: live@theathletic.com What a matchup in final It has been one heck of a U.S. Open on the women’s side with terrific matches and lots of on-court fight and drama. And how will the title be decided? Between the top two seeds and one player who will take over the No. 1 ranking in the world from her opponent on Monday. One player will try to win the U.S. Open for the third time, and her opponent will try to win her second Grand Slam title of the year. Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina for the U.S. Open title has a nice ring to it. Sabalenka-Rybakina head-to-head This will be the third Grand Slam final in which Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have squared off against each other. The previous two were at the Australian Open, with both players winning in three sets. Sabalenka has a 10-7 edge in the career head-to-head against Rybakina. Not only did these two meet in the Australian Open final, but they also played in the Indian Wells final and Miami Open semifinal. Sabalenka is entering this final having won the previous two encounters against Rybakina. This is the best rivalry in women's tennis right now, and it's getting renewed Saturday afternoon. What's at stake for Rybakina? Should Elena Rybakina win the U.S. Open on Saturday, it would be her third career Slam title. She would have a Wimbledon, an Australian Open and a U.S. Open. Rybakina would be a French Open away from the career Grand Slam. She would also be one behind Aryna Sabalenka , her opponent on Saturday, and Naomi Osaka with four Slams. A victory on Saturday would definitely put Rybakina as one of the great players of this era. Rybakina didn't wilt Imagine being Elena Rybakina . You're serving for the match and a spot in the U.S. Open final. Then Coco Gauff , the ultimate battler, breaks you, with Arthur Ashe Stadium at full throttle in terms of noise and atmosphere. A lot of players would've wilted in that cauldron. Not Rybakina. She remained calm and composed and broke Gauff en route to winning the match. Impressive resolve from Rybakina. Can Rybakina stop Sabalenka's streak? Aryna Sabalenka will play in the U.S. Open title match for the fourth straight year on Saturday. She lost to Coco Gauff in 2023 before beating Jessica Pegula in 2024 and Amanda Anisimova in 2025. Elena Rybakina will try to stop Sabalenka's streak on Saturday. Elena Rybakina will be going for her third tournament title of 2026 when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. Rybakina beat Sabalenka for the Australian Open title and then won the Stuttgart Open, beating Karolína Muchová. Late-night travels The rush of fans who entered Arthur Ashe Stadium is now exiting in droves. Some are sticking around to get souvenirs. But others are making their way to the 7 train or LIRR back to Manhattan. At least spectators got a three-setter for the nightcap. Strong Open for Rybakina For Elena Rybakina, what a U.S. Open this has been for her. She is back in her second Slam final of 2026 after winning the Australian Open earlier this year. And on Monday, she will be the new No. 1 in the WTA Tour rankings. Now, Rybakina is looking to add another trophy to her list of accomplishments by winning the U.S. Open. Women's semifinal results

In case you're tuning in late, here are the results from tonight's women's semifinals: Aryna Sabalenka (1) defeats Jessica Pegula (3): 7-5, 6-2 Elena Rybakina (2) defeats Coco Gauff (4): 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Strong summer for Gauff A word on Coco Gauff ! She had a remarkable summer. Gauff won the Cincinnati Open and lost just two matches, both to the same player. She lost in three sets to Rybakina in the Canadian Open semifinals and now in the U.S. Open semis. Both times, Gauff won the first set before Rybakina rallied to win. Gauff definitely played better tonight than she did in Toronto, but it still wasn't enough to defeat the No. 2 seed. Another Slam for Rybakina? Elena Rybakina will be looking for her third Grand Slam on Saturday. Rybakina won the Australian Open this year, and she won the 2022 Wimbledon title. She would need only the French Open title for a career Grand Slam if she wins on Saturday. Familiar matchup in final The year began with Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina playing in the Australian Open final. Rybakina outlasted Sabalenka in three sets. These two players, the top two in the world, will meet again on Saturday for the U.S. Open title. They usually produce memorable battles. I'm excited for Saturday. Rybakina breaks for the win! Gauff 6-3, 4-6, 4-6 Rybakina Elena Rybakina comes through in a huge way with a break to end the match. The swings of emotion and momentum in the second and third sets were must-see. More gutsy play from Gauff Coco Gauff staved off a match point in her last round against Mirra Andreeva. Now, she breaks tonight to stay alive in this U.S. Open women's semifinal. Unbelievable guts from the American. We play on in this women's semifinal. Gauff bounces back! Gauff 6-3, 4-6, *4-5 Rybakina And Coco Gauff responds! What a response! What a break! What a set! Gauff forces some errors from Elena Rybakina, and this set is right back on serve. In a match of thin margins, the mistakes stand out. Coco Gauff is going to want to have that backhand back on break point, where she dumped it into the net. Now Elena Rybakina will serve for a spot in the U.S. Open final. Gauff 6-3, 4-6, 3-5* Rybakina Well, there’s the break for Elena Rybakina , and she is on the brink of the U.S. Open final. No problems for Rybakina Gauff 6-3, 4-6, *3-4 Rybakina Elena Rybakina didn’t have to work at all to hold in that service game. She holds at love and keeps the pressure on Coco Gauff. Elena Rybakina had Coco Gauff on the back foot enough times in that game to lead 4-2. A couple of errors she will want back, and now Gauff has a bit of momentum to put behind her return game at 3-3.