Alexander Zverev reaches the US Open final and awaits Shelton-Tiafoe winner

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, the world's top two-ranked women's tennis players, will face off in the US Open final on Saturday. This marks their third time competing for a Grand Slam title together, giving them an 18th head-to-head matchup in their careers.

Sabalenka, 28, is seeking her third consecutive U.S. Open title, having previously won in 2023 and 2022. In contrast, Rybakina, 27, is taking her place as the No. 1-ranked player in the world, poised to become the first to win three major titles in 2024.

Sabalenka has been in impressive form, reaching the finals in four consecutive US Open tournaments and winning all 10 of her matches against Rybakina. She credits her calm demeanor and strong serve as key factors in her success.

Rybakina, a semifinalist on Friday against Coco Gauff, acknowledges the intensity of the match, stating that her focus is solely on winning. She also expressed confidence in her abilities, vowing to bring her best serve and energy to the court.

Coach Anton Dubrov notes Sabalenka's improved performance throughout the tournament, attributing it to her ability to block out distractions and maintain focus on herself. The match is expected to be an intense battle between the two top-ranked players, with implications for the ranking status that will shift to Rybakina upon the conclusion of the final.