NEW YORK, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and second seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan advanced to the US Open women's singles final on Thursday.
Four-time Grand Slam singles winner Sabalenka powered past third-seeded home player Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach the tournament's final for the fourth consecutive year.
"I wasn't performing well in the middle part of the season. So for me, it's like a last push of the season," Sabalenka, 28, said. "I wanted badly to go to the final. The mentality was just, 'I'm ready. I'm ready for whatever it's going to take to get the win.'"
Rybakina, 27, rallied past American Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Rybakina just secured the women's world No. 1 ranking after beating China's Zheng Qinwen in Wednesday's quarterfinals, ending Sabalenka's 99-week run at the top.
"She [Sabalenka] is an unbelievable player. I definitely need to serve much better than today and stay aggressive," said Rybakina, who will embrace her first US Open final.
"Elena took it over and played really well. She took away the No. 1 position. I can only focus on myself and just stay in the moment, and try to do my best right now just so I keep it tight. Maybe I will take it back from her," said Sabalenka.
In the men's doubles semifinals, Christian Harrison of the United States and Britain's Neal Skupski upset top seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Britain's Henry Patten 7-6 (4), 6-2, while German duo Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz swept home player Rajeev Ram and Britain's Joe Salisbury 6-3, 6-4. ■
