Coco Gauff’s run at the 2026 U.S. Open came to a crushing halt on Thursday, falling to Elena Rybakina in a hard-fought semifinal match that saw Rybakina clinch her spot in the finale and vault to the WTA Tour singles rankings’ top spot on Monday. This was a brutal loss for Gauff, who clearly laid it all out there on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but ultimately couldn’t close it out.
The Fight Was Real, But Rybakina Had the Edge
Gauff jumped out strong, taking the first set, but Rybakina, hailing from Kazakhstan, battled back hard, eventually taking the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. It was a nail-biter where every point felt huge. Rybakina just barely edged Gauff, posting 5 aces to Gauff’s 4, converting 4 break points to Gauff’s 3, and hitting 22 winners compared to Gauff’s 20. Those tiny margins? They decide everything at this level. After the match, Gauff’s pain was clear, writing on social media, “Gave it my all. New York, thank you. It hurts, but I’ll be back.” She later told reporters that while it all feels “great” to get this far, the competitor in her wanted the win, calling it a “learning experience” and expressing hope to keep putting herself in positions to lift trophies.
Gauff’s Season of Growth Faces a Tough Blow
At 22, Gauff has had an incredible 2026 season so far, boasting a 45-14 overall record and an impressive 16-4 in Grand Slams, tying her personal best for Grand Slam wins in a single year. She’s been a force, reaching at least the quarterfinals in five of her last eight Grand Slam appearances, including that epic triumph at the 2025 French Open. But the U.S. Open has been a tougher mountain to climb since her 2023 victory, with fourth-round exits in both 2024 and 2025. Her 1-2 record in finals this year, with a win at the Cincinnati Open, shows her fight, but her 1-2 head-to-head against Rybakina, with both losses this summer, definitely stings. Despite the loss, Gauff showed real progress with her retooled serve and cleaner game. She only totaled four double faults in this three-set match, her second-lowest total since May. Even as the WTA leader with 302 double faults this season, she’s actually averaging one fewer per match compared to 2025, and her 5.3 per match at this U.S. Open was her second fewest ever, only trailing her 2023 title run. That’s a huge step forward even in defeat.
Rybakina’s win means she now faces Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the finale, with Sabalenka set to fall to the No. 2 spot in Monday’s rankings. For Gauff, it’s about taking this pain and learning from it. As she said, “I think it’s confidence to continue to improve.” That’s the mindset of a champion, and you know she’ll be back stronger, aiming to finally get that win in her home Grand Slam.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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