Elena Rybakina defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open women’s singles semifinal to book a place in the final against Aryna Sabalenka. Rybakina recovered after losing the opening set and gradually took control of the contest, completing a three-set comeback against the American player. The victory sets up a meeting between two of the leading players in women’s tennis, with Sabalenka already assured of a place in the championship match.

Gauff made the stronger start and claimed the opening set 6-3, putting Rybakina under early pressure. Rybakina responded in the second set by improving her level and finding greater consistency in her game. She secured the set 6-4 to draw level and force a deciding set, keeping herself in contention for a place in the final.

The Kazakh player continued to apply pressure in the third set and eventually secured another 6-4 scoreline to complete the comeback. Rybakina’s ability to recover after dropping the first set proved decisive as she maintained her composure through the latter stages of the match. The result ended Gauff’s run at the tournament and gave Rybakina an opportunity to compete for another major singles title.

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Rybakina’s victory also has implications for the top position in the women’s rankings. Aryna Sabalenka had recognised that Rybakina was likely to take over the No. 1 ranking, with the outcome of the tournament affecting the battle for the summit. Sabalenka had little opportunity to prevent the change once the relevant results began to fall into place, making the final particularly significant for both players.

The final will therefore bring together Rybakina and Sabalenka in a contest involving two of the highest-ranked players in the women’s game. Rybakina enters the championship match after overcoming Gauff in a demanding semifinal, while Sabalenka will look to finish the tournament with the title after navigating her own side of the draw. The meeting is expected to attract significant attention because of the quality and ranking implications surrounding both players.

For Rybakina, reaching the US Open final represents another major opportunity on one of tennis’s biggest stages. Her comeback against Gauff demonstrated her ability to recover from a difficult start and win a long three-set contest. With Sabalenka waiting in the final, Rybakina will now have the chance to cap her tournament with a Grand Slam title while also strengthening her position at the top of women’s tennis.

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