Rybakina books US Open final with defending champion Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina overpowered Coco Gauff 3-6 6-4 6-4 in a fierce U. S. Open semi-final on Thursday to secure a title showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and stay on course for a third Grand Slam crown. Sabalenka eliminated top-ranked American Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 to move one victory away from a third straight title at the year’s final Grand Slam, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams in New York from 2012 to 2014. Rybakina already knows she will leave Flushing Meadows as the new world number one and can deliver another body blow to the Belarusian by denying her a fifth major title. “She’s an unbelievable player, she played really well today, so I definitely need to step up my game,” said Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January. “I must serve better than I did today and stay aggressive.

” Gauff absorbed relentless pressure and stayed strong from the back to draw errors from the Kazakh, breaking in the sixth game and taking the first set in front of a roaring crowd that included former first lady Michelle Obama. “I felt in the first set that it was a very good start and it was one break, but of course, there are nerves,” a relieved Rybakina said after reaching her maiden U. S. Open final. “Coco’s a great player, it’s always tough to play against her … it’s very difficult to dictate the rallies. I just took a deep breath and just had a positive talk with myself to try and show some good tennis. ” RYBAKINA COOL UNDER PRESSURE Rybakina capitalised on some sloppy play by the fourth-seeded American in the second set to level the match at one set apiece and silence the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, before ramping up the intensity in the decider. The 27-year-old gained control with her power and broke to go 5-3 ahead in the decider, before…