NEW YORK, United States, September 10, 2026: Coco Gauff had Elena Rybakina exactly where she wanted her after one set at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Then the match changed.
Rybakina recovered from losing the opener 3-6 to win 6-4, 6-4, turning a match that initially favored Gauff into another controlled three-set comeback and earning a place in her first US Open final.
The decisive shift did not come from overwhelming ace numbers or a sudden explosion of winners. It came from Rybakina taking command of the first-serve exchanges, reading Gauff’s patterns more effectively and applying increasing pressure to the American’s service games.
By the end, Rybakina had won 76% of her first-serve points compared with Gauff’s 58%, claimed 37 receiving points to Gauff’s 25 and converted four of six break opportunities.
Gauff had started better. Rybakina finished stronger.
Gauff vs Rybakina: US Open 2026 Semifinal Score
| Player | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coco Gauff | 6 | 4 | 4 | Lost |
| Elena Rybakina | 3 | 6 | 6 | Won |
Rybakina now advances to face Aryna Sabalenka, who earlier defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2. The Sports Encounter covered that semifinal in detail after Sabalenka punished Pegula’s second serve to move one win from a US Open three-peat.
Gauff Controlled the Opening Set
The early match numbers favored Gauff because she was making Rybakina work through longer exchanges and protecting her own second serve unusually well.
Gauff took the opening set 6-3 and looked comfortable absorbing Rybakina’s pace. She varied the height of the ball, defended with depth and repeatedly forced Rybakina to hit one more shot than she wanted.
That mattered because Rybakina had entered the semifinal as the most dominant server in the women’s draw. The official US Open semifinal preview noted that she had held serve 92% of the time and won 70% of her service points through the tournament.
For a set, Gauff disrupted that rhythm.
She also arrived with huge confidence after saving two match points in her quarterfinal comeback against Mirra Andreeva.
At 6-3, Gauff looked capable of carrying that momentum into another major final.
Rybakina Changed the Match Through the First Serve
The second set was where the balance shifted.
Rybakina began finding a higher percentage of effective first serves, but more importantly, she became far more efficient once those serves landed.
Across the match she won 76% of her first-serve points.
Gauff won only 58%.
That 18-point percentage gap became one of the defining differences.
Rybakina no longer needed to dominate every rally. She simply began too many points from a stronger position.
The American still performed well on second serve, winning 71% of those points, but that statistic could not compensate for how exposed she became after landing her first delivery.
Full Match Statistics
| Statistic | Coco Gauff | Elena Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 4 | 5 |
| Double faults | 4 | 2 |
| First serve % | 59% | 55% |
| First-serve points won | 58% | 76% |
| Second-serve points won | 71% | 59% |
| Break points | 3/5 | 4/6 |
| Receiving points won | 25 | 37 |
| Total points won | 82 | 88 |
| Games won | 14 | 15 |
| Service points won | 57 | 51 |
| Service games won | 11 | 11 |
The Receiving-Points Gap Explained the Comeback
The more revealing number may be the return differential.
Rybakina won 37 receiving points.
Gauff won 25.
That is a 12-point gap in a match decided by only six total points overall, 88 to 82.
Rybakina increasingly anticipated where Gauff wanted to serve and got enough returns deep into the court to prevent the American from controlling the next shot.
Gauff’s second-serve numbers actually remained excellent, but Rybakina kept finding ways to make the first serve less valuable.
That was especially damaging because Gauff committed four double faults compared with Rybakina’s two. The difference was not enormous, but in a semifinal decided by fine margins it mattered.
Rybakina Had Already Shown She Could Win From Behind
This was not the first time during this US Open that Rybakina had needed to recover after losing the opening set.
In the quarterfinal, she fell behind Zheng Qinwen before winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. That victory secured both her first US Open semifinal and the world No. 1 ranking she will officially take when the new WTA rankings are released. The Sports Encounter detailed that breakthrough after Rybakina survived Zheng and completed her climb to No. 1.
The official US Open quarterfinal report confirmed that both Rybakina and Gauff had already come through three-set comebacks before meeting in the semifinal.
That context mattered.
Neither player panicked when the match moved away from her.
Rybakina simply adjusted better the second time.
Gauff’s Forehand Became the Pressure Point
As the match progressed, Rybakina increasingly directed her aggression toward Gauff’s forehand side.
The pattern was straightforward.
Serve or return deep enough to prevent Gauff from stepping forward, then attack the next neutral ball toward the forehand corner.
That forced Gauff to defend from a wing that can become vulnerable when opponents rush her preparation.
Rybakina did not need to attack recklessly. She simply kept directing enough pressure to that side until shorter balls appeared.
The tactical shift mirrored what she had done during their previous meeting in Canada, where she also recovered from losing the first set to beat Gauff. The official US Open preview noted that Gauff entered this match with a 2-1 career advantage but had lost their most recent encounter. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The Sports Encounter had already looked closely at how Rybakina’s improved resilience and consistency powered her rise to world No. 1. This semifinal offered another example.
The Third Set Became a Test of Nerve
Once Rybakina leveled the match by taking the second set 6-4, the semifinal became a pressure contest.
Neither player could afford a loose service game.
Rybakina was the one who created more opportunities.
She finished the match having converted four of six break points, while Gauff converted three of five.
The difference was small enough to show how competitive the match remained, but large enough to decide it.
Rybakina also won six more total points across the three sets.
In a match without a tiebreak and without one player dominating statistically across every category, that margin told the story: the new world No. 1 was simply better in more of the important moments.
Gauff’s Run Ends After Another Deep Major Push
The loss ends Gauff’s attempt to win a second US Open title.
She had reached the semifinal after a dramatic quarterfinal victory over Andreeva, saving two match points before completing a 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 comeback. The official US Open report described it as one of the most resilient wins of her tournament. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Earlier, she had moved through the draw efficiently, including a straight-sets win over Iva Jovic that The Sports Encounter covered in Gauff’s run into the quarterfinals.
Her tournament still reinforced her position among the sport’s elite, but the semifinal exposed the thin margins separating the final four.
Rybakina’s US Open Breakthrough Is Now Complete
Before this tournament, Rybakina had never reached the US Open semifinals.
Now she is in the final.
Her route has required both dominance and recovery.
She beat Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, a result The Sports Encounter analyzed after Rybakina dismantled Osaka to move within one win of the No. 1 ranking.
Then came the comeback against Zheng.
Now another comeback against Gauff.
That sequence has done more than put her into Saturday’s final. It has strengthened the case that the ranking change reflects something deeper than a mathematical shift.
Rybakina is handling difficult matches differently.
Sabalenka vs Rybakina: Power Against Power, but Not Quite the Same Power
The final will bring together the two most physically imposing baseliners in the women’s draw.
Sabalenka reached her fourth consecutive US Open final by defeating Pegula 7-5, 6-2. She is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Rybakina arrives with the No. 1 ranking already secured and a first US Open title within reach.
She is already a two-time Grand Slam champion, having won Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year. The official US Open semifinal preview confirmed both major titles before her match with Gauff. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
The final therefore offers something more interesting than simple power tennis.
Sabalenka is chasing history.
Rybakina is trying to validate a new world order.
The Sports Encounter’s analysis of the US Open No. 1 race showed how close the two had moved statistically before New York. By the final, the ranking question has already been settled.
The championship question remains.
What Rybakina Changed After the First Set
The simplest reading of this semifinal is also the most useful.
Gauff controlled the opening phase because she made Rybakina uncomfortable.
Rybakina won because she stopped playing the match on Gauff’s terms.
She improved the value of her first serve.
She won more return points.
She attacked the forehand more deliberately.
She created and converted more break chances.
Most importantly, she did not chase the match after losing the opening set.
That may be the biggest difference between the Rybakina who entered New York and the one who will leave it as world No. 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina at the 2026 US Open?
Elena Rybakina beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the women’s semifinal.
Who will Elena Rybakina face in the US Open final?
Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Is this Elena Rybakina’s first US Open final?
Yes. She had never previously reached the US Open semifinals before 2026.
How many aces did Rybakina hit against Gauff?
Rybakina hit five aces compared with four for Gauff.
What was the biggest statistical difference?
Rybakina won 76% of her first-serve points compared with Gauff’s 58% and also won 37 receiving points to Gauff’s 25.
How many break points did Rybakina convert?
Rybakina converted four of six break-point opportunities. Gauff converted three of five.
Is Elena Rybakina the new world No. 1?
Yes. Rybakina secured the No. 1 ranking by reaching the US Open semifinals and will officially take the top spot when the new WTA rankings are released.
How did Gauff reach the semifinal?
Gauff saved two match points and came back to defeat Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
How did Rybakina reach the semifinal?
Rybakina came from a set down to defeat Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
When is the US Open women’s final?
The women’s singles final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina is scheduled for September 12 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.