Rybakina is now a true number 1: comes from behind to beat Gauff and face Sabalenka in the final

Andrés Tomás Rico - 11 Sep 2026 | 08:01
WTA Elena Rybakina Cori Gauff US Open 2026

The Kazakh player triumphed over the American in a very closely contested match that was decided by small details and will play her first final at the US Open, where she will be looking for her third Grand Slam.

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Rybakina is already a true number 1: she comes back against Gauff to face Sabalenka in the final. Photo: Getty Images

If Elena Rybakina is the new world number one, it is for a reason. The Kazakh, who had been knocking on the door of the women's tennis throne for months, played her first match as number one and proved she is ready to take on the role after making a great comeback against one of the most in-form players at the moment, Coco Gauff, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and setting up a meeting with Aryna Sabalenka in the grand final of the US Open.

Thus, the final of the Australian Open is repeated, where the Kazakh secured her second Grand Slam against the Belarusian, in a match that had everything and in which Sabalenka let a 3-0 lead slip away to end up losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. However, in their two most recent encounters (Indian Wells and Miami Open), the player from Minsk came out on top. Therefore, a great match is expected between the new world number one and the new number two.

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Rybakina was a wall of ice at the key moments of her semifinal against Gauff

Rybakina will be seeking her third Grand Slam, the second of 2026, after demonstrating resilience and a lot of patience against a Coco Gauff who had the crowd's support, was a set up, and also deserved the victory. But in tennis, the one who knows how to play the most important points wins, and Rybakina's coolness, combined with her great determination, tilted the match in her favor.

After a very complete first set from Gauff, the Kazakh had to roll up her sleeves and became more aggressive with her returns, earning a break to take a lead of 4-2, but the American was not willing to let the chance slip away and quickly broke back to level at 4-4. Just two games away from the final, Rybakina tightened up, stayed calm, and brought the contest to a decisive third set.

There, chaos reigned in the form of breaks, as both players left nothing behind and played all out. But the first to strike was Rybakina with a break that seemed decisive, 5-3 and serving to finish the match, but Gauff rallied to break back on her last opportunity, and Arthur Ashe erupted with joy. However, all these emotions took their toll on the American, as when she served to level at 5-5, she found the new world number one, who did not want the match to drag on any longer and sealed the victory on the return (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) to prove that despite not being as media-friendly and charismatic as other players, she is just as good or even better than them.

Elena Rybakina is already in her first final in New York, and her alter ego is already looking at her with a desire for revenge. The title of the US Open will be fought over by two warriors with different temperaments but the same hunger.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina ya es toda una número 1: remonta a Gauff para citarse con Sabalenka en la final