Top Four Seeds, Two Championship Battles

The women’s singles semifinals at the 2026 US Open brought together the tournament’s top four seeds, creating a dramatic battle between four of the sport’s leading players.

• Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Jessica Pegula (3)

• Elena Rybakina (2) vs. Coco Gauff (4)

The supplied tournament result identifies Sabalenka and Rybakina as the semifinal winners. This article examines the tactical matchups, championship mindset, and lessons from each player’s game.

Official Results: Both Semifinals

Winner · No. 1 seed

Sep 10, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka def. Jessica Pegula

7–5, 6–2

Sabalenka advanced to her fourth consecutive US Open final.

A USTA Event+1

Winner · No. 2 seed

Sep 10, 2026

Elena Rybakina def. Coco Gauff

3–6, 6–4, 6–4

Rybakina came back from a set down to reach her first US Open final.

A USTA Event+1

2026 US Open Women’s Semifinals: Tennis IQ, Mental Toughness & Championship Mindset

Four Elite Players. Two Very Different Paths to the Final.

The 2026 US Open women’s singles semifinals delivered a compelling tennis lesson: Aryna Sabalenka used overwhelming attacking power to defeat Jessica Pegula in straight sets, while Elena Rybakina overcame Coco Gauff in a three-set battle.

Both matches featured the top four tournament seeds. Yet the winning formulas were different.

Sabalenka controlled the match through aggressive baseline tennis and pressure on Pegula’s second serve. Rybakina had to recover from a slow start, settle her game, and win the final two sets against Gauff.

A USTA Event+1

From a tennis expert’s perspective, these matches reveal the importance of three championship qualities:

Tennis IQ. Mental resilience. Physical and tactical execution.

Match 1: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula