Sabalenka and Rybakina set for US Open final showdown

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will contest the 2026 US Open women's singles final on Saturday, September 13, in a rematch of this year's Australian Open final. The top two players in the world will meet at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Sabalenka seeking a historic third consecutive US Open title and Rybakina aiming to claim her first US Open crown and second Grand Slam of the year.

Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, secured her place in the final with a dominant 7-5, 6-2 victory over third-seeded Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. The Belarusian struck 29 winners and seven aces in a match lasting approximately 80 minutes. She broke Pegula late in the opening set and then pulled away in the second, reaching her fourth consecutive US Open final. Sabalenka has now won 19 consecutive matches at the tournament since losing the 2023 final to Coco Gauff.

Rybakina advanced to her first US Open final by overcoming fourth-seeded Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a three-set comeback. The Kazakhstani player, who will become world No. 1 after the tournament regardless of Saturday's outcome, overcame a first-set deficit to defeat the 2023 champion. Rybakina's victory ended Sabalenka's...