Rybakina defeats Gauff to reach U.S. Open final and claim world No. 1 ranking
Elena Rybakina came from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open semifinals, securing a place in the final against Aryna Sabalenka and confirming her ascent to the top of the women's rankings.
Elena Rybakina rallied to overcome a first-set loss and defeat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Thursday's U.S. Open women's semifinal, earning a spot in the final against Aryna Sabalenka. The victory also guarantees Rybakina the world No. 1 ranking, which she will assume on Monday regardless of the tournament outcome.
Rybakina, the 27-year-old representing Kazakhstan, said she will bring her full energy and focus on serving well against Sabalenka, adding that tight scores are common in high-level matches. "I will need to come with all the energy I have, bring my best serve against Aryna, and make the right decisions in the right moment, because most of the times, it’s a tight, tight score," she told reporters.
Gauff, the 22-year-old American, reflected on her progress over the past year, noting improvements after addressing serving issues with coach Gavin MacMillan. "I think I played almost every match on my terms. The worst match for me was maybe the quarterfinal, where I fell back into old habits, but in 24 hours I was able to switch that," she said.
The semifinal marked the first No. 1 versus No. 2 final at a major since the 2025 French Open. Rybakina will now aim for her second Grand Slam title of the year, while Sabalenka seeks a third consecutive U.S. Open crown.