Rybakina beats Gauff to book US Open final against Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina overpowered Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 ​in a fierce US Open semifinal to secure a title showdown with defending ​champion Aryna ‌Sabalenka and stay on course for a third major crown.

Gauff absorbed relentless pressure ‌and stayed strong from the ⁠back to draw errors from Rybakina, breaking ​in the ‌sixth game and taking the opening set in front of a roaring crowd that included former first lady ​Michelle ‌Obama.

Rybakina capitalised on some sloppy play by the fourth-seeded American ⁠in the second ‌set to level the ‌match and silence the Arthur Ashe Stadium ‌court.

She gained control with her power and broke ‌to ​go 5-3 ⁠ahead in the deciding set.

Gauff hit back with a break of her own but her comeback bid ⁠faltered when she could not hold serve, as Rybakina ‌broke ‌to close out the ​win.

Sunday's final, AEST, will be a rematch of this year's Australian Open decider, which Rybakina won in three sets.

Earlier, Sabalenka eliminated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2, moving one win away from a rare third consecutive title in New York.

The top seed simmered with frustration early in the match before finding her best level, sending over 29 winners and seven aces before closing it out with an unreturnable shot deep in the American's territory.

Third seed Pegula, runner-up in 2024, had no answer ​to the Belarusian's power and allowed ‌costly mistakes to creep into her game in the second set.

"I was so desperate for the win, I wanted it badly," Sabalenka said.

Pegula saved an early break point with a fine forehand winner, while Sabalenka ⁠showed signs of frustration, whacking her racquet on the court after a double ‌fault in the ninth game.

Sabalenka threw ​her racquet to the ground ‌as Pegula held her serve in the 10th game, but hit her stride to break her opponent from the baseline on set point.

"I felt like whatever decision I would make, it is the right decision," said Sabalenka, who lost in her last encounter against Pegula at the Berlin semifinals in June.

"I would definitely say that against ⁠Jess probably today, compared to the last matches we played, ‌it was definitely the better level ‌from me."

The defeat ended Pegula's latest campaign for a first major and she questioned whether even her best work ‌could have reversed the result.

"She played insane. She played a super-high level," Pegula said.

"Honestly, I don't really know if there was much I could do today."