Coco Gauff Lauds Elena Rybakina’s Ice-Cool Composure After US Open Exit: “You Can Never See What She’s Feeling”

Coco Gauff has no doubt about Elena Rybakina dealing with nerves while playing. But Rybakina is someone who shows little to no reaction no matter the situation, which Gauff believes is her strength.

Gauff’s reaction came after her 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Rybakina in the semifinals of the US Open held on Thursday (September 10). The majority of the crowd, unsurprisingly, was cheering for home favorite Gauff.

When the 22-year-old was asked about the way Rybakina handled the crowd at the press conference, she lauded her for not showing any emotions even though she might be feeling a lot of pressure internally.

I think Elena is probably the, not nonchalant because she’s not nonchalant… but you know, just no reaction ever. I’m sure it may appear that way, but we’re all feeling nerves. How much of that she lets get to her, we don’t know. And I think that’s the strength of her.

This marked Gauff’s second defeat to Rybakina in their third meeting. In the other semifinal, another home favorite crashed out. Jessica Pegula suffered a straight-set defeat at the hands of two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

You can never see what she’s feeling. But for sure, she’s human. So she’s feeling nerves and all the things we all feel. She’s dealt with this on more than one occasion. She has the experience.

Coco Gauff added

Before this season, Rybakina had made the fourth round at the US Open just once, in 2025. She, in fact, is chasing her second Grand Slam title of the season as she took home the Australian Open earlier this year by upsetting Sabalenka.

Gauff finished as the champion here at Flushing Meadows by defeating Sabalenka in 2023. She clinched her second Grand Slam singles title by upsetting the Belarusian ace in last year’s French Open final.

Although no American woman will play the final, a home favorite is guaranteed a spot in Sunday’s men’s final. Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton will face off in the semifinals, and the winner will lock horns with Karen Khachanov or reigning French Open champion Alexander Zverev in the final.

Elena Rybakina on her upcoming match against Aryna Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina will face a familiar opponent on Saturday’s final in Aryna Sabalenka. The upcoming match will be their 18th head-to-head meeting. Sabalenka has a 10-7 lead, which also includes wins in their previous two matches at Indian Wells and the Miami Open this season.

Well, she’s unbelievable player, and she was playing really well today, I feel like… and I definitely need to step my game up, serve much better, start to serve much better than today, and stay aggressive, go for the shots because I know whenever you get opportunity, you need to really go for your for your shots, especially with Aryna. So yeah, just try to enjoy.

Elena Rybakina said during her on-court interview

While Rybakina is chasing her third title of the season, Sabalenka is chasing her fourth one after wins in Brisbane and the two Sunshine Double events. But she has not yet won another title since her win over Coco Gauff in Miami. The last time she lifted a Major trophy was by beating Amanda Anisimova in the 2025 US Open final.

Rybakina, who is chasing her third Grand Slam title in New York, won titles in Melbourne and Stuttgart. The World No.2 is ranked No.1 on the live rankings. Even if Sabalenka wins the title, Rybakina will officially be ranked No.1 on Monday. All she needed to reach her career-best ranking was to defeat Qinwen Zheng and reach the semifinals.

Also read: Megyn Kelly Slams Naomi Osaka’s US Open Fashion Choices: “Looks Like Someone Ran Over Her Cat”