Rybakina sets up blockbuster Sabalenka final at US Open

Elena Rybakina, set to become the world's top-ranked tennis player, secured a dramatic comeback victory over Coco Gauff in order to face off against the current No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in the upcoming US Open final. The match-up promises to be a thrilling showdown between the tournament's top two seeds. Upon the rankings being updated on Monday, Rybakina will take over Sabalenka's position at the summit.

If Rybakina can prevent Sabalenka from securing her third consecutive US Open title, she will mark a significant milestone by ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign as world number one.

Earlier in the week, Sabalenka demonstrated her dominance by defeating home favorite Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2, keeping her aspirations of becoming the third woman to win the title three times in a row alive. Rybakina, on the other hand, emerged victorious in her semi-final clash against fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and silencing the enthusiastic crowd.

Rybakina, who is now aiming for her third Grand Slam title, is the first player, male or female, to reach eight consecutive hard-court Grand Slam finals. Sabalenka, on the other hand, has not lost in New York since her loss to Gauff in the 2023 final. Nevertheless, doubts were cast on her title defense due to a series of setbacks following a strong start to the season, including a quarter-final loss at Roland Garros and a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon. However, she has regained her form and managed to lose only one set in her journey to the final.

Sabalenka expressed her desperation after her win over Pegula, stating that it feels like a final push for her season. She emphasized her determination to go all the way in the Grand Slams. In the first set, Sabalenka displayed frustration early on, as unforced errors weighed heavily on her game while Pegula settled quickly and struck the ball cleanly. Nevertheless, Sabalenka found her rhythm, striking decisively at 6-5 in the first set, and subsequently dominated the second set, smashing 29 winners to Pegula's 12.

For Pegula – the sole semi-finalist without a Grand Slam title – this marks yet another US Open defeat at the hands of Sabalenka. In their previous encounters, Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the 2024 final and their semi-final clash at the 2023 Berlin Open. Pegula admitted that Sabalenka would have beaten 99% of the players she faced throughout the year, adding that she considered Sabalenka to be the best match she played this year.