MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates match point in the Women's Singles Semifinal match against Jessica Pegula of the United States during day 12 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
One day after ascending to world No. 1, Elena Rybakina backed it up.
The No. 2 seed came back from a set down to defeat No. 4 Coco Gauff, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her first U.S. Open final. Rybakina broke Gauff twice in a row to end the match.
Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, will face No. 1 seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Rybakina beat Sabalenka in three sets in the Melbourne final and then took the No. 1 ranking away from her by reaching the semifinals.
“I know you guys wanted Coco to win, and I think it was really a battle, and really it went my way,” Rybakina said on court. “I was just trying to still be focused, try to stay aggressive, and somehow won the match.”
