By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Jourmalist.
Photo Credit: US Open.
The lights will be on at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the crowd will be loud and there is nowhere left to hide.
For the first time in more than 50 years, the US Open women’s semi -finals will feature the tournament’s top four seeds. Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff have survived the fortnight, leaving New York with two heavyweight contests and the prospect of a final worthy of the occasion.
The last time the US Open produced a final four made up entirely of its top four seeds was 1975, when Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova and Evonne Goolagong Cawley reached the semi finals.
There is plenty of history still to be written.
Sabalenka, the No.1 seed, has been the dominant figure in New York in recent years. She has reached the final in each of the last three editions and won the title in 2024 and 2025. Another victory would give the Belarusian a third consecutive US Open championship.
She has not lost here since the 2023 final.
That record looked under serious threat in the quarter finals when Linda Noskova led 4 2 in the deciding set. Sabalenka responded in the manner that has become familiar at Flushing Meadows, recovering to win 7 6, 3 6, 7 6 and extend her US Open winning streak to 19 matches.
Jessica Pegula now stands between Sabalenka and another final.
The American No.1 has already collected 50 wins this season and has carried that consistency into her home Grand Slam. She had to work particularly hard in the third round against Leylah Fernandez, recovering from a poor opening set to win 1- 6, 6 -4, 6 3-. Against Emma Navarro in the quarter finals, Pegula again came from behind, winning 3- 6, 6 -4, 6- 3.
She knows what awaits.
Sabalenka leads their head to head 9- 4 and won their US Open final in 2024, as well as last year’s semi final after recovering from a set down. Pegula does have reason for optimism, having won their most recent meeting in Berlin.
Sabalenka expects another fight. “Jessica is a really challenging player to play against,” she said. “She really improved a lot in the last couple of years, improved her game, really putting me under so much pressure.”
There was no suggestion from Sabalenka that she would welcome anything less. “I’m loving playing against her, because it’s a battle, because it’s a fight, and I love being under pressure and going through tough challenges.”
Pegula sees the rivalry in much the same way. “I think it’s fun to look at it like a rivalry,” she said. “She’s definitely pushed me to become a better player, so I always respect and appreciate that aspect of our rivalry.”
The American also knows there is a psychological hurdle to clear. “She’s gotten me here the last couple of years,” Pegula said. “I have been able to beat her a few times, maybe on a smaller stage, so I think that’s going to be kind of a hurdle for me to get over.”
If there is pressure on Sabalenka, it is of a different kind. She has surrendered the No.1 ranking after 99 weeks at the top, but another US Open title would be a compelling way to respond.
The second semi -final brings together Gauff and Rybakina, with the American No.4 seed carrying the weight of a home crowd and the Kazakh entering the match as the player about to become the new world No.1.
Rybakina’s rise to the top has been confirmed during the tournament, although she has been quick to play down the significance. “It’s just a number,” she has said of the ranking.
There is a Grand Slam title to chase, after all.
Rybakina has been clinical in New York. She swept aside Naomi Osaka 6- 1, 6- 4 in the fourth round before recovering from a set down against Zheng Qinwen to win 3- 6, 6 -1, 6 -4 in the quarter finals.
Gauff’s route has been less straightforward, but perhaps more revealing.
The 22 year old was forced to dig deeply against Mirra Andreeva, saving two match points before completing a 2 -6, 7- 6, 6- 2 victory. It was another example of the resilience that helped her win the US Open in 2023 and the Cincinnati title last month.
There is also the crowd.
Arthur Ashe has been firmly behind Gauff throughout the tournament and Rybakina knows she will have to deal with that noise while trying to impose her own game. “I will expect that a lot of people are going to support her,” Rybakina said. “It’s normal.”
The two have played only twice in their careers. Gauff won their first meeting, a three hour battle in Toronto in 2022. Rybakina levelled the rivalry last month at the same tournament, winning their semi final 5 7, 6 2, 6 2.
Gauff knows the lesson.
“We played each other in Toronto. You know, it didn’t go my way, so I think I just have to learn from that match.”
She also understands what is coming. “I’m going to have some aces hit on me and some winners hit on me, but I’m going to keep fighting and give it my all. That’s all I can do.”
Rybakina has arrived at this stage after a difficult period, having dealt with injury and a disrupted preparation. She admits there is still plenty of work to do, but there is also an appreciation of where she now finds herself.
“From where I was coming to this tournament, being injured and not practising, I think we came pretty far,” she said. “Now we have the last pushes and important to still enjoy. Hopefully it’s going to go my way.”
Four of the best remain.
Sabalenka wants another piece of New York history. Pegula wants to turn years of near misses into a home Grand Slam breakthrough. Gauff wants another run at the title in front of a crowd that believes she can do it. Rybakina wants to mark her arrival at No.1 with the biggest trophy of all. By the time the lights go out at Arthur Ashe, two of them will be left standing.