After two excellent Australian Open finals, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will play for the trophy in New York after setting up a blockbuster US Open final.
On Thursday night in New York, the world’s top two women came through contrasting semifinals to book their third Grand Slam final meeting and first outside of Australia.
Top seed Sabalenka was imperious against Jessica Pegula first up at Arthur Ashe Stadium, before second seed Rybakina rebounded to beat Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka and Rybakina have split their two previous Slam final meetings, with Rybakina winning the most recent – from 3-0 down in the third set – at AO 2026.
Rybakina’s 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over Gauff ensured that for the first time since 1994, the Australian and US Open finals will be contested between the same two women.
She knows what to expect.
“She’s an unbelievable player,” said Rybakina of Sabalenka, whom she will replace as world No.1 on Monday.
“She was playing really well today, I feel like. I definitely need to step my game up, start to serve much better than today. Stay aggressive, go for the shots, because I know whenever you get an opportunity you need to really go for your shots. Especially with Aryna.
“I just try to enjoy. I think I did maximum on this tournament already. Especially doubting if I’m going to be able to play here. I’m super happy.”
Both Rybakina and Sabalenka entered the US Open under question marks.
Rybakina withdrew from her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek after five games with an ankle injury, which significantly impacted her preparation for a major tournament at which she’d never passed the fourth round.
She blew that previous best result out of the water this fortnight, confirming her rise to world No.1 by beating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals.
Having previously won Wimbledon and the Australian Open, a title at the US Open would put Rybakina three quarters of the way to a career Grand Slam.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, arrived in New York without a tournament final in six months and having suffered several mystifying losses from winning positions in that span.
But after coming through a thrilling quarterfinal against reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, she went up a gear under lights in the semifinals.
From 5-5 in the first set against Pegula, Sabalenka won eight of the final 10 games, finishing with 29 winners to Pegula’s 12 and a +7 differential in her own winners to unforced errors.
“I think that's definitely – you can ask her – probably the best match she's played this year,” said Pegula after being eliminated in one hour and 20 minutes. “I don't know who pissed her off today… hopefully it wasn't me totally, but might have been.
“She played insane. She played a super-high level. Honestly, I don't really know if there was much I could do today.”
With her win, Sabalenka will compete in an eighth consecutive hardcourt Grand Slam final, an all-time record.
On a 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows, she remains on course for a third straight US Open women’s singles title, something only Serena Williams and Chris Evert have achieved in the Open era.
“To get this win in straight sets today really impressed me, to be honest. I'm really happy,” said Sabalenka, who also beat Pegula in the US Open 2024 final and 2025 semifinals.
“I was super desperate. I lost tough match on grass against Jess [in Berlin in June], and I wasn't really performing well in the middle part of the season. So it kind of like feels for me, talking about Grand Slams, like a last push of the season.
“I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way.
“If it's Elena, it's going to be really tough match. She's a big server. She really improved over the years on the baseline game, so it's going to be a physically and mentally tough match.
“But I'm ready for the fight. I'm ready to do everything to get the win, so I'm excited for that match.”
Rybakina ensured she would be Sabalenka’s opponent when, for the second time in a month, she beat Gauff in a tournament semifinal. Just as she did in Toronto, Rybakina recovered after losing the first and was ultimately the steadier player.
It sets up an 18th career meeting between Rybakina and Sabalenka, with the latter leading the head-to-head 10-7.
And it’s their third in a major final, something we haven’t seen in almost a decade since Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams clashed in three Slam finals from 2016 to 2018.
It’s also the first No.1 v No.2 women’s final in New York in 13 years.
These numbers reflect a trend back towards consistency and rivalries at the top of the women’s game.
That was also demonstrated this fortnight when all top six seeds reached the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since 1998, and when the top four seeds reached the semifinals at the same Slam for the first time since 2009 – and the first time in New York in 51 years.
It sets the stage for a compelling final on Saturday afternoon.
“I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and make the right decisions in the right moment, because most of the times it's tight, tight score. This is where the decision makes a difference,” Rybakina said ahead of her fourth Slam final.
“We push each other when we play these matches, and you clearly can see on what you need to work more.
“I think that's great that you play against someone who pushes you until the limits."