COCO GAUFF was cheered on by Michelle Obama at the US Open, but it will be Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka who will become the first lady of Flushing Meadows.

Rybakina came from a set down to sink Gauff 3-6 6-4 6-4, a couple of hours after Sabalenka had sent Jessica Pegula packing in her home city.

Rybakina, the 27-year-old from Kazakhstan, stole the world number one spot from Sabalenka by reaching the semi-finals, and tomorrow she will attempt to prise the US Open title from her grasp as well.

“I feel like it was a great match, and of course, a lot of people wanted Coco to win. It’s normal. I think everyone understands,” she said.

“In the beginning I felt like it was a very nice atmosphere and only in the end, when I was up in the third set, the crowd really supported Coco a lot. But I tried to focus on myself and tried to not listen.”

A break of serve for 4-2 and a commanding hold to love put Gauff on the way to taking the first set, but her serve and forehand wobbles returned at precisely the wrong time to gift Rybakina the second

As the tension rose deep in the decider, a wide Gauff forehand gave Rybakina break point, which she took for 5-3, but a stunning backhand on the run, accompanied by a scream of defiance, kept the home favourite afloat.

However, a Rybakina volley in the next brought up two match points and she took the first when Gauff’s desperate overhead flew long.

Gauff, who won the title in 2023, said: “It hurts. Yeah, it’s all great, but I think the competitor in me, this is the tournament I want to perform at.

“I mean, I did perform, but it’s the one that you want to come out with a win.”

Sabalenka had earlier overpowered Pegula 7-5 6-2 to reach her fourth successive final here.

A business-like victory was wrapped up in an hour and 20 minutes and celebrated with a simple clenched fist.

“No complaints, I’m super happy to be able to play such tennis,” said Sabalenka. “I was so desperate to win, I wanted it badly.”