Elena Rybakina and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will meet in the 2026 US Open (WTA) final after both secured their spots in the semi-finals on Thursday. Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat Coco Gauff 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 in a fierce contest, while Sabalenka swept past Jessica Pegula 7–5, 6–2 to extend her US Open winning streak to 19 matches. The Kazakh's comeback over the American world No. 2 sets up a title showdown with the two-time defending champion, and Rybakina will replace Sabalenka atop the rankings next week regardless of the final's outcome.
For the women's draw, the semi-finals marked a historic moment: the top four seeds reached the last four for the first time since 1975. On the men's side, Alexander Zverev also advanced to the semi-finals with a notable achievement, becoming the first to reach that stage this year—a feat Carlos Alcaraz has not yet managed after his quarter-final exit. The tournament continues this week with both the ATP and WTA draws nearing their conclusion, while the 2026 Shanghai (ATP) begins its opening rounds in parallel.