Sabalenka reaches the US Open final and faces Rybakina

Awaiting her in the final is Elena Rybakina, a player who had already reached a Grand Slam final this season and was now able to celebrate her first US Open final appearance. Rybakina impressed in the semifinal with a calm, composed demeanor and was not unsettled by the atmosphere in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

While Sabalenka, who missed out on the US hat trick previously achieved in the Open Era only by Chris Evert (1975 to 1978) and Serena Williams (2012 to 2014), "chopped up" her racket, Rybakina remained outwardly completely emotionless and cool after her successful US Open final debut. (confidence: 0.9978, corroborated by 3 sources)

Missed hat trick in the Open Era

The missed hat trick means that Sabalenka does not join the illustrious circle of Evert and Williams, the only players in the Open Era to have won the US Open final three times in a row. Sabalenka triumphed in 2023 and 2024, but was stopped in the semifinal before now qualifying for the final again this time. Statistics from the last three years show that she continues to be one of the most consistent players on the tour on hard courts at Grand Slams.

Pegula, who reached the US Open semifinal for the first time this year, praised her opponent's performance after the defeat and spoke of an "impressive performance." The American, who had previously beaten Coco Gauff among others, bid farewell to the Center Court with a smile and announced that she would make another attempt to reach the final next year.

For Sabalenka, it is the third Grand Slam final of this season, after she had already reached the final at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon. The world number one goes into the duel with Rybakina as the clear favorite, scheduled for Saturday evening (local time). With a successful title defense, she would further extend her lead in the world rankings and increase the gap to the competition.

Rybakina as a composed challenger

Rybakina, who reached the final without dropping a set, sees the final as a chance for her second Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022. The Kazakh, known for her calm game build-up and strong serve, has gained confidence in recent weeks and is considered a dangerous underdog.

Away from the sport, Sabalenka caused a stir with eye-catching custom jewelry that she had also worn in earlier matches and which was discussed on social media. The pieces, designed in collaboration with a New York artist, are said by Sabalenka to commemorate personal milestones in her career.

Outlook for the final on Saturday

The final pairing between the current world number one and this year's Wimbledon finalist is considered one of the most high-caliber duels in recent tennis history. Both players bring different playing styles: Sabalenka relies on power and aggression from the baseline, Rybakina on precise serving play and patience in the rallies.

In the run-up to the final, both players have emphasized that they are looking forward to the duel and want to enjoy the special atmosphere in New York. The Arthur Ashe Stadium will be sold out on Saturday evening with around 23,000 spectators, including numerous celebrities from sport and entertainment.

With a view to the world rankings, the final could already be a preliminary decision in the battle for year-end number one. Sabalenka currently leads the rankings clearly; a title win would further increase her lead. Rybakina, on the other hand, could move up to second place with a win and achieve her best season position since 2022.