The women’s final is set in New York with the top two players in the world set to do battle on Saturday for the US Open title.
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced to another US Open final with a dominant performance against No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, knocking out the American in straight sets (7-5, 6-2). Pegula had no answers for Sabalenka’s power,as the top seed faced (and saved) just one break point in the entire match. While Pegula hung in for the first 11 games of the match, trading holds with Sabalenka in the first set, the dam broke in the 12th game when Sabalenka broke to take the set and then broke Pegula in two of her four service games in the second set.
Sabalenka will now get her chance at a US Open three-peat in her eighth straight hardcourt grand slam final, where she’ll face No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina. Rybakina battled back from a set down to beat No. 4 seed Coco Gauff in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-4), putting a bow on a rough night for the American contingent at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff looked terrific early but saw her serve and her forehand steadily break down as the match progressed, while Rybakina shook off a rough opening set to play steady, solid tennis, poking at Gauff’s weaknesses to complete the comeback victory.
Rybakina has already locked up the No. 1 spot in the next batch of WTA world rankings, but she can fully assert herself as the game’s new dominant force if she can prevent a Sabalenka three-peat. If successful, she’ll take home back-to-back grand slam titles on hard courts after breaking through at the Australian Open earlier this year, and will head into 2027 as the clear top player in the women’s game.
The men’s semifinals will get going on Friday evening, with No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev facing unseeded Karen Khachanov in the opener, with the all-American showdown between No. 8 seed Ben Shelton and No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe in the highly anticipated night cap.
Keep it locked here over the next two weeks for our complete coverage of the 2026 US Open.
Where to watch the 2026 US OpenDates: Aug. 30 – Sept. 13, 2026Location: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center — Flushing, New YorkTV: ESPN, ABC | Stream: fubo (try for free)Men’s semifinal matches
1. Alexander Zverev vs. Karen Khachanov
8. Ben Shelton vs. 11. Frances Tiafoe
Women’s semifinal matches
1. Aryna Sabalenka def. 3. Jessica Pegula (7-5, 6-2)
2. Elena Rybakina vs. 4. Coco Gauff (3-6, 6-4, 6-4)