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

Both men’s semifinals will be played on Friday, September 11, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev and Khachanov are set to walk on court no earlier than 3 p.m. local time, followed by Shelton and Tiafoe at 7 p.m. Since none of the four have ever won a US Open title, the tournament is guaranteed a first-time men’s singles champion this year.

Alexander Zverev (1) vs. Karen Khachanov

Top seed Zverev, currently ranked No. 2 in the world and a finalist at this event back in 2020, has cut through the draw by beating Lorenzo Sonego, Quentin Halys, Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi, and Botic van de Zandschulp without dropping a match. Khachanov, ranked No. 50 but a proven big-match player, worked past Roman Andres Burruchaga, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Benjamin Bonzi, and Learner Tien before advancing when Alexander Blockx had to retire while down two sets and a break.

This will be the pair’s sixth meeting on tour, with Zverev holding a commanding advantage in their head-to-head and having taken four of their last five matchups. The two have only crossed paths once before at a major — a five-set battle at the 2018 French Open that Zverev came through — and Zverev also got the better of Khachanov in the gold medal match at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

On the Grand Slam front, Zverev finally broke through for his first major title this June at the French Open, beating Flavio Cobolli in the final, after previously falling short in championship matches at the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, and 2025 Australian Open. Khachanov, meanwhile, is still searching for his maiden Slam trophy — Friday’s match will mark his third career major semifinal, adding to appearances at the 2022 US Open and 2023 Australian Open. Zverev’s experience and firepower make him the clear favorite, but Khachanov has already proven in this tournament that he thrives when written off.

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

This is the match many fans have circled on their calendars — a semifinal between two good friends and both hoping to become the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. Tiafoe fought through a tough draw that included wins over Martin Damm, Rei Sakamoto, Valentin Vacherot, Daniil Medvedev, and Alex Michelsen to reach this stage. Shelton’s road was just as demanding, with victories over Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz — arguably the biggest win of his career so far.

Shelton holds the edge in their head-to-head, and interestingly, every single one of their previous meetings has taken place on American soil. Two of those came at this very tournament, with Shelton winning a four-set quarterfinal in 2023 and Tiafoe answering back with a five-set win in the 2024 third round. Shelton also beat Tiafoe in the 2024 Houston final and the 2025 Washington quarterfinals.

Neither man has won a Grand Slam title yet, and both are appearing in their third career major semifinal — Tiafoe having also reached that stage at the US Open in 2022 and 2024, and Shelton having done the same here in 2023 as well as at the 2025 Australian Open. With huge serves, athletic all-court games, and a home New York crowd fully behind them, this match has the makings of one of the most electric of the tournament.

There’s plenty on the line beyond just a place in the final. The runner-up in New York will collect 1,300 ranking points and $2.8 million, while whoever falls short in the semifinals still walks away with 800 points and $1.45 million. The eventual champion will take home 2,000 points and a $5.5 million paycheck.

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.