Sabalenka and Rybakina to Meet in US Open Final After Semifinal Wins
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will face each other in the US Open final after defeating American stars Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff in the semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Arthur Ashe Stadium shifted from American euphoria to local depression after both local tennis players suffered a double blow in the semifinals. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff were eliminated one after another, leaving the local crowd—including Michelle Obama in the stands—without a single American representative in a Grand Slam final this season, for the first time since 2006. However, despite the local disappointment, for the sport, the final is the most fascinating match women's tennis can offer: defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against Elena Rybakina, who, regardless of Saturday's result, has already secured the world number-one ranking.
The Battle of Power and Composure
The evening opened with the first heartbreak in the stands. Jessica Pegula (3) hoped to leverage the push of 23,000 spectators to clear the Belarusian hurdle, but Aryna Sabalenka displayed absolute physical dominance. Following a tight first set, Sabalenka stepped up a gear, forced her power game, and swept the court on her way to 7:5, 6:2 in an hour and 20 minutes. For Sabalenka, this marks her fourth consecutive New York final, holding an impressive streak of 19 victories at Flushing Meadows. On Saturday, she will try to lift a third consecutive trophy—an achievement previously reserved only for Serena Williams and Chris Evert in the Open Era. \n> "I know you wanted her to win, but the respect you show me is priceless," Sabalenka admitted to the crowd at the end.
Rybakina Stuns Gauff
If Pegula's loss was conceivable, Coco Gauff's (4) collapse shook New York. The local crowd favorite, who arrived on a streak of 11 consecutive wins, started fiercely with 6:3 in the first set. However, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (2) proved once again why she is a brand of cold-bloodedness in peak moments. Rybakina raised her serving intensity, took control of key points from the baseline, and turned the tables with 6:4, 6:4 after two hours and nine minutes. \n> "We push each other to the limit, this is the best match you can ask for to test your limits," Rybakina said ahead of the final.
