Sabalenka vs. Pegula, Gauff vs. Rybakina: What to know about Thursday’s US Open women’s semifinals

Thursday’s night session at the U.S. Open will feature the tournament’s top four seeds: Aryna sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula followed by Coco Gauff vs. Elena Rybakina. For american fans, the schedule delivers two marquee matchups that combine title history, ranking drama and home-crowd interest.

Quick lead: who’s playing and when

The semifinal pairings pit No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the first match of the Arthur Ashe Stadium session, followed by No. 4 Coco Gauff versus No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the nightcap. Broadcasters including ESPN are carrying the semifinals, and the winners will meet in Saturday’s women’s final.

Why this night matters

Multiple historical and practical stakes converge on Thursday:

• Sabalenka is attempting to win a third straight U.S. Open, a feat that would put her alongside Chris Evert and Serena Williams as a three-peat winner in the Open Era, according to reporting on her bid.
• Rybakina secured the WTA No. 1 ranking during the tournament and will carry that status into the semifinals, a development chronicled in advance coverage.
• For the American contingent, Gauff and Pegula represent differing narratives: Gauff is a former U.S. Open champion seeking another title, while Pegula is still pursuing her first major.
• It’s also notable that the top four seeds have reached the semifinals — a rarity at Grand Slams and the first time at the U.S. Open since 1975, according to WTA coverage.

Match-by-match preview

Sabalenka (1) vs. Pegula (3)

Sabalenka and Pegula bring a rivalry with multiple recent high-stakes meetings. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 9–4, and she defeated Pegula in the 2024 U.S. Open final and the 2025 semifinal, per match records cited in coverage. Pegula’s most recent win over Sabalenka came at the 2026 Berlin semifinals earlier this season.

Sabalenka arrives having dropped just one set in New York before the semis and after surviving a dramatic three-set quarterfinal against Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková. Coverage notes that Sabalenka changed rackets between points late in that match and closed it with a second-serve ace.

Pegula’s path has included several three-set battles. She edged Emma Navarro in a quarterfinal that featured eight double faults and multiple breaks of serve for Pegula, showing resilience that has been a theme of her summer. The WTA has documented Pegula’s continued push for a first major and her solid season results.

How it shapes up: reporting and market commentary list Sabalenka as the favorite, reflecting both her Grand Slam experience at Flushing Meadows and the head-to-head edge. Pegula’s route so far — frequent comebacks and more consistent baseline play this summer — sets up a classic contrast of power and aggression versus steadier court craft.

Gauff (4) vs. Rybakina (2)

Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, comes in on a strong winning run, including a Cincinnati title, and survived a tough quarterfinal against Mirra Andreeva in which she saved two match points in a second-set tiebreak. Rybakina arrives in form as well: she lost only one set en route to the semifinals and clinched the No. 1 ranking with a quarterfinal victory over Zheng Qinwen.

Their recent meetings are limited: they split two completed matches on hard courts, and a third scheduled meeting ended as a walkover. Rybakina beat Gauff in the 2026 Toronto semifinal after recovering from a set down, according to tournament recaps.

How it shapes up: Rybakina’s serve and power make her a narrow favorite in previews, while Gauff’s defensive skills, returning and home-crowd support are noted as leveling factors. Observers emphasize that early momentum and handling big points could determine the outcome, because service breaks are likely to be at a premium.

Context and broader implications

Beyond the single-match outcomes, Thursday’s results have ripple effects for the season and player legacies.

• A win for Sabalenka keeps alive an attempt at a rare three-peat at the U.S. Open and maintains her status as the tournament favorite in forecasts published ahead of the semis.
• Rybakina — already confirmed as the incoming world No. 1 during the event — can further cement a breakthrough season with a run to the final and a possible third Grand Slam title, as reported by the WTA.
• For American tennis, two players in the semis means strong home interest: Gauff is a clear crowd favorite and Pegula’s deep run continues a productive summer on U.S. hard courts.

What’s unresolved

Several open questions remain that coverage flagged but did not resolve:

• Can Pegula overcome Sabalenka’s head-to-head edge and home-court pressure to reach her first major final? Sources report both players’ recent results but do not predict exact match play-by-play.
• Will Rybakina’s recent injury concerns, referenced in previews, affect her performance later in the night session? Pre-tournament notes mentioned an injury scare but also her strong wins since.
• How will crowd dynamics influence Gauff’s night match and the expected atmosphere for the potential all-American final? Observers emphasize fan support but offer no definitive causal link to match outcomes.

Practical details for U.S. viewers

The semifinals are scheduled for the prime night session in Arthur Ashe Stadium and will air on ESPN. Winners advance to the women’s final on Saturday. Streaming and international broadcast details are available from tournament media partners and were cited in event previews.

Timeline of the final week (selected milestones)

1. Early rounds — top seeds progressed with few upsets, leaving the top four seeds standing into the second week (WTA recap).
2. Quarterfinals — Rybakina’s win over Zheng secured her rise to No. 1; Sabalenka survived a close match with Nosková; Gauff saved match points against Andreeva; Pegula edged Navarro (multiple sources).
3. Thursday — semifinals: Sabalenka vs. Pegula, Gauff vs. Rybakina (schedules reported across outlets).
4. Saturday — women’s final: winners from Thursday meet (tournament schedule).

Bottom line for American audiences

Thursday’s semifinal card delivers high stakes for U.S. tennis fans: an American (Pegula) facing a dominant three-time U.S. Open champion (Sabalenka) in the earlier match and a home favorite (Gauff) trying to stop the tournament’s new No. 1 (Rybakina) under the night lights. Coverage across the WTA, The New York Times and other outlets highlights both the rarity of the top four seeds surviving to the semis and the narrative weight each player brings into Flushing Meadows.

“The winners of Thursday’s semifinals will advance to the women’s championship on Saturday.”