The US Open women’s singles tournament has reached a historic stage, with the top four seeds all advancing to the semi-finals. This marks the first time since 1975 that the top four seeds have reached this stage at the New York major. The semi-final lineup features Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff, all of whom navigated through three-set matches to secure their spots.
Former British number one Annabel Croft described the lineup as “amazing” and noted that the tournament has offered intriguing match-ups, highlighting a potential shift in the women’s game. This is the first time since Wimbledon in 2009 that the top four ranked players have reached the women’s semi-finals at any Grand Slam, suggesting a move away from the unpredictable outcomes that have been characteristic of women’s tennis in recent years. Since 2020, there have been 13 different Grand Slam women’s singles champions, in contrast to seven on the men’s side.
Sabalenka and Pegula’s Continuing Rivalry
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, is set to face Jessica Pegula in the first semi-final. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three consecutive US Open titles. Pegula, the third seed, is the only player remaining in the women’s draw who is still seeking her maiden Grand Slam title.
The two players have a history, having faced each other 13 times previously, including in the past two US Open tournaments. Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the 2024 final and also in last year’s semi-finals. Pegula views their encounters as a rivalry that motivates her, acknowledging that Sabalenka has pushed her to improve as a player. She has secured victories against Sabalenka on four occasions on the WTA Tour, but considers beating her at a Grand Slam level a “hurdle” to overcome.
Sabalenka expressed her excitement for the match, describing it as a “battle” and a “fight,” and stated her enjoyment of playing under pressure and facing tough challenges. She enters this semi-final after falling to Pegula at the Berlin Open in June. Pegula noted that while Sabalenka may not have had the best results during the summer, she possesses significant confidence at the US Open as she pursues a third consecutive title.
Rybakina to become World Number One, faces Gauff
In the second semi-final, Elena Rybakina will take on Coco Gauff. Rybakina, the second seed, is set to become the new world number one on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top. This achievement follows her quarter-final victory over Qinwen Zheng. She will be the 30th woman to top the WTA rankings and the first from Kazakhstan to reach this position.
Despite the impending number one ranking, Rybakina has downplayed its significance, calling it “just a number” and emphasizing her focus on winning her third Grand Slam title. Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller highlighted that becoming world number one after a Grand Slam final or semi-final loss is not the same as capping it off with a title, suggesting Rybakina’s desire to win the tournament.
Gauff, the fourth seed, will have the support of the home crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 22-year-old American, who won the Flushing Meadows title in 2023 but experienced fourth-round exits in the subsequent two years, approaches this year’s tournament with a different mindset. She reflected on her improved perspective compared to the previous year, which inspires her to continue working hard.
Gauff leads their head-to-head record 2-1. However, Rybakina, the Australian Open champion, came back from a set down to win their encounter in last month’s Canadian Open semi-finals. Gauff acknowledged that she expects to face powerful serves and winners from Rybakina but is determined to keep fighting and give her best. Rybakina anticipates strong crowd support for Gauff and plans to maintain an aggressive playing style.
The US Open matches are scheduled to be broadcast live from midnight on Thursday.
Source: bbc.com
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