<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/sports-news-today-elena-rybakina-win-team-india-seal-final-in-womens-asia-cup-virat-kohli-meets-eknath-shinde-in-london-23649551" rel="nofollow">Elena Rybakina</a> rallied from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday and book a US Open final showdown with two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
In Saturday&rsquo;s final Rybakina will try to deal another blow to Sabalenka, having knocked her out of the No. 1 world ranking just by reaching the semi-finals.
&ldquo;I feel like I definitely need to step my game up, serve much better than today and stay aggressive,&rdquo; Rybakina said of her looming clash with Sabalenka.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/sep/Coco-Gauff_e.jpg" alt="Coco Gauff during her semi-final defeat" width="1280" height="720" /> Coco Gauff during her semi-final defeat
Gauff&rsquo;s made a strong start taking the opening set. But Rybakina hit back with an early break of serve in the second set for a 4-1 lead, but Gauff fought back to level at 4-4. Yet she was unable to make the most of her fightback and double-faulted in the 10th game to hand two set points to Rybakina at 15-40.
The third set followed a similar pattern. Gauff conceded a break to trail 5-3 and leave Rybakina serving for the match. But the American broke back immediately to make it 5-4 to get it back on serve.&nbsp;
Again though Gauff was unable to capitalise, and a deft volley from Rybakina left her with two match points at 15-40, before Gauff then hit a wide open smash long to hand her opponent victory.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was such a cool third set &mdash; I feel like I was a little bit lucky on her serve. A couple of deep returns, one mistake from her, it went quickly my way... it was a real battle,&rdquo; Rybakina said.
Three No of times <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/pushed-myself-to-the-limit-sabalenka-after-win-over-noskova-23649230" rel="nofollow">Aryna Sabalenka</a> and Elena Rybakina have faced each other this year, with the former winning twice and the Kazakh emerging victorious once.

US Open: Elena beats Coco Gauff to enter summit clash; says she’ll have to put on a much-improved show against Sabalenka

US Open: Elena Rybakina expresses views ahead of the final against Aryna Sabalenka

'I’d love to train with her...': Simone Biles on Serena Williams

Elena beats Coco Gauff to enter summit clash; says she’ll have to put on a much-improved show against Sabalenka

US Open | 'I definitely need to step my game up...': Elena Rybakina ahead of final against Aryna Sabalenka

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / US Open | 'I definitely need to step my game up...': Elena Rybakina ahead of final against Aryna Sabalenka