US Open 2026 Semifinals Preview: Who Will Reach the Final?

The 2026 US Open has reached its semifinal stage, and the final four players in each draw are set. On the women’s side, it’s Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff vs. Elena Rybakina. On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev takes on Karen Khachanov, while Frances Tiafoe faces Ben Shelton in an all-American showdown. Here’s everything you need to know before the matches begin.

Women’s Semifinals

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

The first women’s semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium is a repeat of the 2024 US Open final, and it will be the third year in a row that Sabalenka and Pegula have met in New York, always at the semifinal or final stage. So far, Sabalenka has won every one of those meetings and both of the previous titles, and she also holds a strong overall head-to-head lead over Pegula.

Court time could play a role in how fresh each player feels. Sabalenka has spent a little over seven and a half hours on court so far and has only lost one set, while Pegula has been out there closer to eight and a quarter hours and has dropped two sets. Both players needed three sets to get through their quarterfinal matches, so neither will be walking in fully rested.

There was extra motivation at the start of the tournament, since both players had a shot at finishing the event as world No. 1. That possibility ended when Elena Rybakina clinched the top ranking simply by reaching the semifinals. The Grand Slam title, however, is still very much up for grabs. Sabalenka is chasing a third straight US Open crown, while a win for Pegula would give her the first Grand Slam title of her career.

Pegula’s form against the other semifinalists this season has been shaky — she has just one win in six tries against Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Gauff combined, and that single win came on grass earlier in the year. Sabalenka, for her part, has not yet won a major this season despite claiming a title in each of the previous three years, though she did have a strong run on American hard courts earlier this year. Interestingly, the numbers suggest this match could be tight: Sabalenka has won 56% of total points played at this year’s tournament, while Pegula is only slightly behind at 55%.

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

The second women’s semifinal features Gauff and Rybakina meeting for the fourth time in their careers. Gauff leads their head-to-head 2-1, but Rybakina won the most recent meeting just last month, coming back from a set down.

This match also carries ranking significance — Rybakina is set to become the new world No. 1 after her quarterfinal win over Zheng Qinwen, while Gauff’s own hopes at the top ranking depended on both winning the title and Rybakina losing before the semifinals, which is no longer possible.

Both women have had to work hard physically. Rybakina has spent about seven and a half hours on court, and Gauff has spent close to eight and three-quarter hours. Each dropped only one set the entire tournament, and it came in the quarterfinals, where both had to fight back after losing the opening set. Gauff’s win over Mirra Andreeva was especially dramatic, as she saved match points before completing the comeback.

Both players already have multiple Grand Slam titles to their name — Gauff won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025, while Rybakina has titles from Wimbledon 2022 and this year’s Australian Open. The two have also traded the year-end WTA Finals title in recent seasons. On top of that, Rybakina has been one of the most dominant servers of the tournament, holding serve and winning service points at the highest rate among the women left in the draw.

Men’s Semifinals

Alexander Zverev (1) vs. Karen Khachanov

Top seed Zverev has been in excellent form, cruising through his quarterfinal in straight sets against Botic van de Zandschulp. Khachanov, unseeded but clearly playing with confidence, needed just three sets to get past Alexander Blockx, who had to retire during the match. Zverev’s consistency and power from the baseline make him the favorite here, but Khachanov has nothing to lose and has shown he can push top players to their limit.

Frances Tiafoe (11) vs. Ben Shelton (8)

This is the match many fans have been waiting for — an all-American semifinal between two of the sport’s most exciting young stars. Tiafoe needed five sets to get past Alex Michelsen, showing his trademark fighting spirit in a tight battle. Shelton, meanwhile, produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating second seed Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller. Both players bring huge serves and aggressive, high-energy games, and with a raucous home crowd behind them, this match has the potential to be one of the loudest and most entertaining of the tournament.

What to Watch For

With so much on the line — Grand Slam titles, world No. 1 rankings, and history in the making — these semifinals promise to deliver great tennis. Sabalenka will look to continue her New York dominance against Pegula, while Rybakina arrives as the new world No. 1 looking to add another major title against a determined Gauff. On the men’s side, Zverev is the clear favorite against Khachanov, but the all-American clash between Tiafoe and Shelton could steal the show. Whoever wins these four matches will take one final step toward lifting the trophy at this year’s US Open.

Stay tuned for full results and reaction as the semifinals get underway at Arthur Ashe Stadium.