<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/us-open-elena-rybakina-expresses-views-ahead-of-the-final-against-aryna-sabalenka-23649602" rel="nofollow">Elena Rybakina</a> is set to lock horns with Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the US Open 2026. The match is scheduled to be played on September 13 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Ahead of the title clash, Rybakina spoke about how she found her groove and advanced to the final.
"I wasn't 100 per cent sure if I was going to be able to even play this tournament. In the first few matches, I was thinking about my foot and how it was actually going to react. I was not that comfortable playing the first few matches. Then, slowly, my focus moved towards what I was doing wrong on the court and what I needed to improve. So yeah, slowly I found my way. There were also some very difficult opponents and great matches. I feel like something is definitely going my way, and I hope that on finals day, I can do my best and that it also brings me success," she said in an interview with JioStar.
She will now take on Sabalenka, who is one of the most celebrated and dominant players in women's <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/elena-rybakina-rallies-past-coco-gauff-to-set-up-us-open-final-against-aryna-sabalenka-23649492" rel="nofollow">tennis</a>. Ahead of the final, the Moscow-born tennis star said that she will focus on staying aggressive in important moments and not let Sabalenka dictate the point.
"I guess the same spirit. I need to fight no matter how I'm going to feel on that day and give my best. We know each other pretty well and have played so many times against each other. Yeah, just try to stay aggressive in important moments, not wait for her to dictate the point, and try to stay on top of the rallies," said Rybakina.
<h2>US Open 2026, semifinal: Match summary</h2>
Earlier, Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/gauff-inspired-by-compatriot-tiafoe-in-fightback-against-andreeva-23649398" rel="nofollow">Coco Gauff</a> 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday and book a US Open final showdown.
Gauff&rsquo;s made a strong start taking the opening set. But Rybakina hit back with an early break of serve in the second set for a 4-1 lead, but Gauff fought back to level at 4-4. Yet she was unable to make the most of her fightback and double-faulted in the 10th game to hand two set points to Rybakina at 15-40.
The third set followed a similar pattern. Gauff conceded a break to trail 5-3 and leave Rybakina serving for the match. But the American broke back immediately to make it 5-4 to get it back on serve.&nbsp;
Again though, Gauff was unable to capitalise, and a deft volley from Rybakina left her with two match points at 15-40, before Gauff then hit a wide-open smash long to hand her opponent victory.
(With AFP Inputs)

US Open 2026: Ahead of the final, Elena Rybakina said that she will focus on staying aggressive in important moments and not let Sabalenka dictate the point

US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina speaks about the title clash against Aryna Sabalenka

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Ahead of the final, the Moscow-born tennis star said that she will focus on staying aggressive in important moments and not let Sabalenka dictate the point

US Open 2026 | 'I need to fight no matter how I'm going to feel on that day...': Elena Rybakina ahead of final

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Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / US Open 2026 | 'I need to fight no matter how I'm going to feel on that day...': Elena Rybakina ahead of final