Sabalenka stops Pegula, but the real story is waiting: A blockbuster US Open final against Rybakina

For a few minutes on Thursday night in New York, Jessica Pegula gave the crowd hope. Then Aryna Sabalenka did what champions do.

She absorbed the pressure, found another gear, and powered her way into a fourth straight US Open final with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over the American. According to Reuters, the top seed struck 29 winners and seven aces in a commanding performance that moved her within one victory of a third consecutive US Open title.

But as impressive as the semi-final win was, it may end up being remembered as merely the opening act. Because waiting on the other side of the net is Elena Rybakina, the newly crowned world No. 1, and the woman who has quietly developed one of the fiercest rivalries in modern tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka survives an early scare to reach another US Open final

The match began with Pegula doing exactly what a home crowd wanted. The American stayed toe-to-toe with the defending champion and kept the first set tight. But Sabalenka's power eventually told.

The Belarusian broke at a crucial moment to take the opening set 7-5 before racing through the second. She looked far sharper than in her recent defeat to Pegula in Berlin, repeatedly punishing weak second serves and dictating rallies from the baseline.

The victory sends Sabalenka into her fourth consecutive US Open final, a remarkable streak in an era of increasing depth in women's tennis.

Elena Rybakina's comeback win over Coco Gauff changed everything

If Sabalenka's route to the final was emphatic, Rybakina's was dramatic.

The Kazakh star dropped the first set against defending champion Coco Gauff before storming back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Reports from the US Open noted that Rybakina gradually wrestled control of the match by targeting Gauff's forehand and raising her level when it mattered most.

The victory carried significance beyond a place in the final.

Rybakina's run has already secured her rise to world No. 1, a milestone many believed was only a matter of time given her consistency over the past few seasons.

Why the Sabalenka-Rybakina rivalry is becoming women's tennis' biggest attraction

Some rivalries are built on history. Others are built on contrast. Sabalenka and Rybakina have both.

One brings relentless aggression and emotion. The other projects calm while unleashing some of the cleanest ball-striking in the sport. Their matches often feel less like contests and more like heavyweight exchanges.

The pair have already met multiple times this season, including major finals and WTA showpieces. Rybakina beat Sabalenka to win the 2026 Australian Open, while Sabalenka responded by edging her rival in a thrilling Indian Wells final.

Now they meet again with a Grand Slam title on the line.

A rare piece of tennis history is within Sabalenka's reach

The stakes are enormous.

Sabalenka is attempting to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles, joining legends Serena Williams and Chris Evert. That achievement alone would place this final among the most significant matches of her career.

Yet Rybakina represents perhaps the toughest possible obstacle. She has already beaten Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final this year and arrives in New York playing some of the best tennis of her life.

The US Open final now has everything tennis could want

A defending champion chasing history, a newly crowned world No. 1 seeking another major title, and a rivalry that keeps producing high-quality matches.

For weeks, the US Open has been building toward a defining showdown. Now it has one.

On one side stands Aryna Sabalenka, trying to complete a three-peat that has eluded almost everyone in the modern game. On the other is Elena Rybakina, the woman many believe is best equipped to end that dream.

The final is no longer just about a trophy.

It is about who truly owns women's tennis right now.

(With inputs from agencies)