Episode Details

Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina — full preview, head-to-head breakdown and prediction for the SEMIFINAL of the 2026 US Open. The new World No. 1 against the 2023 champion, in a final four that hasn't happened at this tournament in 51 YEARS.

Elena Rybakina arrives with the biggest news of the fortnight already secured: she WILL BECOME WORLD NO. 1 after this tournament, replacing Aryna Sabalenka, after edging Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. The reigning Australian Open champion had to come from a set down to end the qualifier's extraordinary run, and it caps a stretch in which she has beaten Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 and won 42 of her last 50 hard-court matches. She is the form player on this surface, full stop.

Coco Gauff is one match from a second US Open final, and she just survived the scare of her tournament. Having not dropped a set through four rounds, the fourth seed found herself a set and two MATCH POINTS down against 2026 Roland-Garros champion Mirra Andreeva before rallying to win 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 — extending her perfect head-to-head over Andreeva to 6-0. She came into New York as the Cincinnati Open champion, exactly as she did in 2023 before winning her maiden Grand Slam in this building.

The head-to-head is dead level at 1-1 — and the last meeting was recent. In the Toronto semifinals on August 13, Rybakina lost the opening set and then took control, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

For context on how strong this final four is: this is the FIRST TIME SINCE 1975 that all top four seeds have reached the US Open women's semifinals, with Sabalenka facing Jessica Pegula in the other half.

🎾 IN THIS VIDEO

- How Rybakina beat Gauff in Toronto four weeks ago

- Whether Gauff's escape was a warning sign or proof of resilience

- What the No. 1 ranking pressure does to Rybakina

- Prediction, scoreline, and the final that follows

📊 MATCH INFO

Tournament: 2026 US Open (Grand Slam)

Round: Semifinal — Women's Singles

Players: Coco Gauff (USA, No. 4, 4th seed) vs Elena Rybakina (KAZ, No. 2 seed, incoming World No. 1)

Head-to-head: 1-1 (last: Toronto 2026 SF, Rybakina won 5-7 6-2 6-2)

Other semifinal: Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula

Surface: Outdoor Hard

Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York

💬 Gauff or Rybakina? Predicted scoreline in the comments.

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⚠️ Independent tennis analysis and commentary. Predictions are opinion only and not betting advice. Not affiliated with the USTA, the WTA or the US Open.

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