Rybakina Overcomes Gauff to Reach US Open Final

Elena Rybakina recovered from a first-set loss to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open women's semi-final, securing a place in the final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The match, played before a crowd of about 22,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw Gauff dominate the opening set before Rybakina adjusted her tactics, widening the court and using angled backhands to take a 4-1 lead in the second set.

Rybakina’s serve, which had been less effective earlier, produced two aces in the deciding set, helping her hold serve and eventually break Gauff to close the match. The victory marks Rybakina’s fourth Grand Slam final appearance and her first US Open final, while Gauff struggled with forehand errors and unforced mistakes throughout the contest.

"I’m not satisfied; the job isn’t half-finished," Rybakina said after her quarter-final win, indicating her focus on winning the title.

The semi-final was notable for being the first time in 51 years that all four top seeds reached the US Open women’s semi-finals, underscoring the depth of the current top tier of the sport.