US Open 2026 Women’s Semifinals Are Set! Sabalenka vs Pegula, Gauff vs Rybakina

The US Open 2026 women's singles semifinals are set, and the final four could hardly be more star-studded. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faces Jessica Pegula, while new world No. 1 Elena Rybakina takes on 2023 champion Coco Gauff.

All four top seeds have survived to reach the semifinals, creating a remarkable finish to the women's tournament. It is the first time since Wimbledon 2009 that the top four women's seeds have all reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula

The first semifinal brings together two familiar US Open rivals. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will face third seed Jessica Pegula in another major meeting between the two Americans' biggest challengers.

Sabalenka booked her semifinal place by surviving Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) in a thrilling quarterfinal. The victory sent the defending champion into her sixth consecutive US Open semifinal.

Pegula fought back from a set down to defeat Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The No. 3 seed has now reached the US Open semifinals for the third consecutive year.

Sabalenka Chasing a Historic Three-Peat

Sabalenka has won the US Open in each of the last two years and is now two victories away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open singles titles.

Her victory over Noskova extended her US Open winning streak to 18 matches. She will now face Pegula with another final within touching distance.

Pegula's Chance at a First Grand Slam

Pegula has reached another deep run in New York, but the biggest prize has continued to elude her. The American has now reached five finals during the 2026 season and is still searching for her first Grand Slam title.

She has already reached the US Open final once before, losing to Sabalenka in the 2024 championship match. Now she has another opportunity to defeat the defending champion and return to the final.

Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina

The second semifinal features two Grand Slam champions with very different stories heading into the final four.

Coco Gauff reached the semifinals after producing a huge comeback against Mirra Andreeva. The No. 4 seed lost the opening set 6-2 but fought back to win 7-6(7), 6-2, saving two match points in the second-set tiebreak.

Rybakina also had to come from behind. The No. 2 seed defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach her first US Open semifinal.

Rybakina Is the New World No. 1

Rybakina's quarterfinal victory carried enormous significance beyond the result. By defeating Zheng, she secured the WTA World No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career.

She will officially take the top position when the new rankings are released after the US Open. Rybakina will become the 30th different WTA World No. 1.

The new No. 1 now has another major challenge in front of her: Gauff, a former US Open champion playing in front of her home crowd.

Gauff's New York Momentum

Gauff entered the US Open after winning the Cincinnati WTA 1000 title, the same tournament she won before her 2023 US Open championship.

Her quarterfinal against Andreeva appeared to be slipping away after the teenager took the opening set and held two match points in the second-set tiebreak. Gauff refused to panic, saved both and eventually completed a remarkable comeback.

Now the 2023 champion is just two victories away from winning her second US Open title.

A Historic Women's Semifinal Lineup

The women's semifinal lineup is historic because the four highest seeds in the tournament have all survived to the final four.

Sabalenka is the defending champion and chasing a three-peat. Rybakina has just become the new world No. 1. Pegula is chasing her first Grand Slam title. Gauff is trying to win the US Open again on home soil.

It is a semifinal lineup packed with storylines, and both matches have the potential to produce a blockbuster final.

US Open 2026 Women's Semifinal Lineup

With all four top seeds still alive, the women's tournament has reached a stage where every remaining player has a realistic claim to the trophy.

Sabalenka wants a historic third straight US Open title. Pegula wants her first Grand Slam. Gauff wants another championship in New York. And Rybakina, now the new world No. 1, wants to add another major title to her 2026 Australian Open crown.

The semifinals will decide which two players earn the right to fight for the US Open trophy.