2026 US Open women's semifinals: Preview and predictions for both matches

John Smith •September 10, 2026 at 11:19 AM, New York •News

The US Open is coming to a close this weekend, and what a tournament it has been. On the women's side, for instance, Zheng Qinwen has now been pushed out of the tournament, but during her run had back-to-back comebacks from 0-5 deficits in sets. It's been that kind of major.

On the men's side, an American man will have a chance to take the title for the first time since 2003, when Andy Roddick did. Frances Taifoe and Ben Shelton will play in one semifinal, and Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in his quarterfinal match.

But who will play in the women's final on Saturday, September 12, at 4 pm ET? A couple of guesses are below.

Previews and predictions for the women's semifinals at the 2026 US Open

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula - 7 pm ET

Sabalenka is clearly the Queen of New York each September, having made the final of the US Open in each of the last three years and winning the major in the last two. Still, any of the remaining players are capable of taking the title in 2026.

Pegula and Sabalenka have met 13 times before, and the Belarusian leads the head-to-head 9-4, but the American has won two of the last three meetings. What makes this match a must-watch for tennis fans is that neither player will give in easily. Three sets should be expected.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd will probably be mostly behind Pegula, but Sabalenka's past success implies she is still the favorite to win the Grand Slam. She will take this match in three tough sets.

Coco Gauff vs. Elena Rybakina - Not before 8:30 pm ET

Oddly, as successful as both players have been for the last several years, they have only played each other twice, and only once since 2023. Rybakina defeated Gauff in three sets in the semifinals of the 2026 Canadian Open.

Rybakina could be playing with little pressure. No matter whether she wins another match at the US Open or not, once the new rankings come out after the tournament, she will be the WTA No. 1, the first time in her career that she has achieved that.

Gauff knows how to win in New York, though, and the crowd will be firmly behind her. She will likely struggle in the first set, but win in three. That is, unless she struggles with her serve (and too many double faults), once again, and Rybakina could win in straight sets.