US Open semi-finals bring top four seeds together for first time since 2009

The US Open women’s singles draw has produced a rare meeting of the tournament’s top four seeds in the semi-finals, with Aryna Sabalenka facing Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina taking on Coco Gauff.

Sky Sports reported that it is the first time since Wimbledon in 2009 that all four top seeds have reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam. At the US Open, the feat has occurred only once before in the Open Era, in 1975.

Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, is pursuing a third consecutive title in New York. She has reached six straight US Open semi-finals and leads Pegula 9-4 in their head-to-head record, although the American has won two of their last three meetings.

Pegula is seeking her first Grand Slam title after returning to the semi-finals for a third consecutive year. Sabalenka previously defeated her at the US Open in 2024 and again in last year’s semi-finals.

Rybakina is expected to become the WTA’s world No 1 when the rankings are updated after the tournament, which would make her the first player from Kazakhstan to hold the position. She will meet Gauff, the 2023 champion, after the American saved two match points to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.

The semi-final will renew a rivalry that is level at one win apiece. Rybakina defeated Gauff in last month’s Canadian Open semi-final, while Gauff has also reached the last four at a second successive Grand Slam after her Wimbledon run.