Top Four Seeds Advance to 2026 U.S. Open Women’s Semifinals
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Top Four Seeds Advance to 2026 U.S. Open Women's Semifinals
- For the first time since 1975 at the U.S. Open, all top four seeds in the women's singles draw have reached the semifinals.
- This year's women's semifinals, played on Thursday, September 10, feature Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina.
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The 2026 U.S. Open women’s singles tournament has seen a rare occurrence, with all top four seeds—Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff—advancing to the semifinals. This marks the first time since 1975 that the top four seeds have reached the U.S. Open women’s semifinals, and the first time at any Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009.
On Thursday, September 10, the semifinals are set to feature top seed Aryna Sabalenka against third seed Jessica Pegula, and second seed Elena Rybakina against fourth seed Coco Gauff. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, will look to continue her quest for a third consecutive U.S. Open title. She holds a 9-4 head-to-head advantage over Pegula, having defeated her in the 2024 U.S. Open final and the 2025 U.S. Open semifinals.
In the other semifinal, Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, secured her spot after a comeback victory against Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, September 9. Gauff saved two match points to defeat Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. Elena Rybakina, who attained the world No. 1 singles ranking by reaching the semifinals, will face Gauff.
Meanwhile, the men’s draw has been more unpredictable. In the quarterfinals, on Tuesday, September 9, American Ben Shelton, the No. 8 seed, upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that became the latest-ever finish in U.S. Open history. Shelton will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals. Top-seeded Alexander Zverev also advanced to the semifinals on Wednesday, September 9, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp. Zverev, who won the French Open earlier this year, will play Karen Khachanov in the semifinals on Friday.