Sabalenka chases historic third straight US Open title at Flushing Meadows

Sabalenka Chases Historic US Open Three-Peat as Top Four Seeds Reach New York Semifinals

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka stands two matches away from becoming the first woman in nearly four decades to win three consecutive US Open titles, after the world's top four seeds all advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for only the second time in the Open Era.

The No. 1 seed will face third-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the first semifinal, whilst newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina battles fourth seed Coco Gauff in a contest that marks only the second time since 1975 that the top four women's seeds have reached the final four in New York.

Historic Semifinal Lineup Echoes 1975 Tournament

The 2026 US Open semifinals represent a rare achievement in tennis history, matching the only other occasion the top four women's seeds advanced this far at Flushing Meadows, in 1975, when Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova and Evonne Goolagong Cawley comprised the final four. The feat has not occurred at any Grand Slam championship since Wimbledon in 2009, when Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva reached that tournament's semifinals.

The semifinal matches are scheduled for the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the winners advancing to Saturday's final.

Sabalenka Leads Head-to-Head Against Pegula 9-4

Sabalenka enters her 14th career meeting with Pegula holding a commanding 9-4 advantage in their rivalry, though their recent encounters have proved fiercely competitive. Their last four matches have all extended to three sets, with each player claiming two victories. Pegula won their most recent clash 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-0 in the semifinals at Berlin earlier this year, whilst Sabalenka prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in their last hard-court meeting at the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh group stage.

The contest represents a rematch of the 2024 US Open final and marks the second consecutive year the two have met in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka Blocks Outside Noise in Quest for Three-Peat

The quest for an unprecedented three consecutive US Open titles is proceeding according to plan for Sabalenka, who has recorded her best result since reaching the semifinals in Berlin. The Belarusian has found new rhythm and consistent form in New York after a stretch in which many of her recent results have not been up to par by her standards.

Sabalenka opened the tournament with four consecutive straight-sets victories before facing a difficult test against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Despite dropping the second set and falling behind a break in the third, Sabalenka regained her composure, played her game more freely and escaped with a super-tiebreak victory.

Her biggest key throughout the fortnight has been blocking external noise and focusing on her own process, rather than dwelling on the No. 1 ranking, which she no longer holds, or perceptions of her recent form. The approach stems from lessons learned during her failed attempt to win three consecutive Australian Open titles earlier in her career.

"I'm just super happy that I put myself in the position where I have chance to go for three-peat, even though I'm still far away from that," Sabalenka said. "What I learned from Australia is it's really important to shut down all of the noises and having that on the back of your mind. It's nothing wrong about that, just as long as you're focusing on yourself, as long as you're ready to fight, basically."

Pegula's Stellar Summer Continues with Third Straight Semifinal

Pegula's strong summer form has carried through to Flushing Meadows, where she has reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year whilst still searching for her first Grand Slam title. The American arrived in New York on the back of finals appearances in Washington and Cincinnati.

Her path through the draw has not been entirely smooth, with Pegula requiring three sets to overcome 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez in the third round. She extended her strong season form by edging out fellow American Emma Navarro in a gritty, back-and-forth three-set quarterfinal victory, her 50th win of the season on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz.

Though Sabalenka's summer has not reached the level of Pegula's, the American is not surprised to see her opponent's success at the US Open and expressed readiness for the latest chapter in their rivalry. Pegula noted that the rivalry itself serves as motivation, with their last four encounters all going to a deciding set and each player winning two.

"I think for me, I'm going to try to pull what I did well from those few matches, but then also be aware that she's a top player," Pegula said. "Her and her team I feel like do a really great job of looking at what they need to improve, what other players are doing against her."

"It's fun to look at the rivalry we've had. She's gotten me here the last couple of years. I have been able to beat her a few times, maybe on a smaller stage, so I think that's going to be kind of a hurdle for me to get over," Pegula added.

Rybakina Secures World No. 1 Ranking with Quarterfinal Victory

Rybakina's three-set victory over Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals secured the Kazakh player's ascent to world No. 1 in the PIF WTA Rankings, making her the 30th player to reach the top spot since the ranking format was introduced in 1975. The achievement represents the first item checked off her to-do list, with the second being to capture the US Open title, which would mark Rybakina's third Grand Slam championship.

The 2026 Australian Open singles champion has looked dominant throughout the tournament, winning all her matches in straight sets aside from the quarterfinal, including a powerful fourth-round victory over two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Her performance comes despite an injury scare in Cincinnati that left her uncertain whether she would compete in New York at all.

"I think from where I was coming to this tournament, being injured and not practicing, I think we came pretty far," Rybakina said. "Now [it's] just last pushes and important to still enjoy. Hopefully it's going to go my way."

As for the new world No. 1 ranking, Rybakina expressed gratitude for the recognition whilst maintaining strict focus on her next match. "It's a different achievement, and I feel like you're going for the titles more, and then ranking, it might follow up, maybe not. Depends on how others play," Rybakina said. "But mostly you think about the titles in the end of the day, and I'm glad I have two right now. I try my best to win here. If not, of course I will have other chances."

Gauff Rallies from Match Points Down to Reach Semifinals

The 2023 US Open champion demonstrated her resilience by saving two match points against Andreeva in the second-set tiebreak before turning the match around completely. The comeback victory maintained Gauff's perfect 6-0 record against the Roland Garros winner and marked her first dropped set after a stretch of 20 consecutive sets won.

The fourth seed now shares the lead with Pegula for most comeback wins this season with 12. Gauff arrived at the US Open on the heels of a title in Cincinnati, having stated throughout the Hard-Court Swing that her goal was to peak at Flushing Meadows, an objective she has accomplished by reaching her seventh Grand Slam semifinal.

She will face Rybakina in what represents only the third meeting between the two players, with their head-to-head tied at 1-1. Rybakina won their most recent encounter 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals at Toronto. Despite the brief history, Gauff possesses the home-crowd advantage and the weapons necessary to test the new world No. 1.

"Sometimes you just need a chance, and I think I got my chances today," Gauff said following her quarterfinal victory. "I was really determined to not lose that second set because I felt I worked so hard to give myself opportunities and lost them. Once the third set started I felt pretty confident I was going to come out with that one."

Second Semifinal Features Rising Stars Vying for Top Ranking

The second semifinal between Rybakina and Gauff carries additional significance as Rybakina vies to consolidate her position at world No. 1. The No. 2 seed has already secured the ranking but will look to cement her status with a victory over the in-form American.

Gauff's remarkable comeback against fifth seed Andreeva demonstrated the type of momentum she hopes to carry into the semifinal. The home favourite will face a stern test against Rybakina, who has won two major singles championships and displayed commanding form throughout the tournament despite her pre-tournament injury concerns.

The match represents another opportunity for Gauff to demonstrate her ability to perform on the sport's biggest stages, having already captured the US Open title in 2023. Her path to a potential second home triumph will require overcoming one of the game's most powerful players in Rybakina, whose recent Australian Open victory established her credentials as one of the tour's elite performers.

Sabalenka's Form Improves at Critical Moment

Throughout her run to the semifinals, Sabalenka has demonstrated improving form at precisely the right moment in the season. After struggling to match her typically high standards in recent tournaments, the defending champion has rediscovered the consistency that made her dominant in New York over the past two years.

Her victory over Noskova proved particularly significant, as it marked a turning point where Sabalenka overcame frustration and adversity to prevail in a super-tiebreak. The match showed her ability to regain composure under pressure and play her natural game when circumstances became difficult.

The mental approach Sabalenka has adopted for this tournament reflects maturity gained from past experiences, particularly her inability to complete a three-peat at the Australian Open. Rather than allowing external pressure or expectations to influence her performance, she has maintained focus on the immediate task whilst acknowledging the historic opportunity before her.

Pegula Seeks to Break Through on Bigger Stage

For Pegula, the semifinal represents another opportunity to translate her consistent excellence into Grand Slam success. Having reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for three consecutive years, the American remains in search of the breakthrough that would deliver her first major title.

Her assessment of the upcoming match with Sabalenka reflects both respect for her opponent's abilities and confidence in her own game. Pegula acknowledged that Sabalenka and her team excel at identifying areas for improvement and adapting to what opponents do well, making each encounter a fresh challenge.

The rivalry between the two players has produced compelling tennis, with their last four matches all requiring three sets to determine a winner. Pegula has proven capable of defeating Sabalenka, though she acknowledged that many of those victories came on smaller stages rather than in the latter rounds of majors. Overcoming that hurdle represents one of the key challenges she faces in the semifinal.

Championship Implications for All Four Contenders

The semifinals mark the penultimate step toward the season's final Grand Slam title, with Saturday's final awaiting the two winners. For Sabalenka, victory would place her one match away from joining an exclusive group of players who have won the same Grand Slam three consecutive times.

Pegula seeks to break through after multiple deep runs at majors, whilst Gauff aims to defend her 2023 title and Rybakina pursues a third Grand Slam championship to validate her new world No. 1 status. Each player brings a compelling narrative and strong recent form into the semifinals, setting up what promises to be compelling tennis on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The historic nature of having all four top seeds reach the semifinals adds additional significance to the occasion, representing a rare convergence of seeding and performance at one of tennis's most prestigious events. Only once before in the Open Era have the top four women's seeds all advanced to the US Open semifinals, making the 2026 edition a notable achievement in the tournament's history.