Rybakina Claims World No. 1
Elena Rybakina Rallies Past Coco Gauff to Reach US Open Final and Claim Top Ranking
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Key Points
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Rybakina had already secured the world No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals, after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals; she became the 30th player to reach the top of the WTA rankings.
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Rybakina’s semifinal comeback lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes. After Gauff leveled the third set by breaking back at 3-5, Rybakina immediately broke again and closed out the match.
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Sabalenka dominated Pegula statistically in the semifinal, hitting 29 winners to Pegula’s 12 and extending her U.S. Open winning streak to 19 matches, according to the report.
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The tournament’s top four seeds all reached the women’s semifinals for the first time since 1975; Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff had already won multiple major titles, while Pegula was still seeking her first.
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Rybakina credited a mid-match mental reset for her turnaround against Gauff: “Took a deep breath, was trying to talk positive with myself and just told myself that I need to fight and try to show good tennis.”
Elena Rybakina rallied past Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first U.S. Open final, East Idaho News reported. The victory also secured Rybakina the world No. 1 ranking, ending Aryna Sabalenka's 99-week reign at the top. Saturday's championship will pit the sport's two best players against each other in a rematch of the 2023 final, which Sabalenka won.
Sabalenka easily defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the other semifinal and will defend her title. Clutch Points noted this marks Rybakina's third Grand Slam final. Sabalenka is seeking a third consecutive U.S. Open title, while Rybakina looks to claim her first major at Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina's Comeback After Early Setback
Rybakina trailed after losing the first set to Gauff. The match lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes as Rybakina fought back to take the second and third sets. When Gauff broke back to level the third set at 5-3, Rybakina responded immediately with another break and closed out the match.
Rybakina credited mental toughness for her turnaround. "Took a deep breath, was trying to talk positive with myself and just told myself that I need to fight and try to show good tennis," she said. Head Topics reported her comeback showed composure under pressure in a crucial semifinal.
Sabalenka Dominates Pegula with Dominant Display
Sabalenka overwhelmed Pegula in their semifinal matchup. WPBF reported she hit 29 winners compared to Pegula's 12. The victory extended Sabalenka's U.S. Open winning streak to 19 consecutive matches, highlighting her dominance on the hard courts.
Pegula, seeking her first Grand Slam title, never found momentum against the defending champion. Sabalenka's aggressive play and sharp serving controlled the match from start to finish. The 7-5, 6-2 victory set up the championship showdown.
Historic Semifinal Lineup Features Top Four Seeds
The U.S. Open women's semifinals featured an unprecedented pairing: the tournament's top four seeds all advanced to the final four. East Idaho News noted this marked the first time since 1975 that all four top seeds reached the semifinals together.
Three of the four semifinalists—Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Gauff—are established Grand Slam champions. Pegula was the outlier, still pursuing her first major title. The dominance of the top seeds underscored the competitive depth among the sport's elite women players.
Rybakina's Path to World No. 1 Now Complete
Rybakina actually clinched the world No. 1 ranking earlier by reaching the semifinals. She became the 30th player to reach the top of the WTA rankings after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals. Her semifinal victory over Gauff confirms her status at the summit of women's tennis.
The ranking change ends Sabalenka's 99-week reign as the No. 1 player. Despite losing the top ranking, Sabalenka remains among the sport's elite and seeks to prove it by winning a third straight U.S. Open title. Saturday's final will showcase the new world No. 1 against the defending champion.
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