Aryna Sabalenka Advances US Open Semifinals After Opponent Injury

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the U.S. Open semi-finals after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew due to injury, securing Sabalenka's defense of her No. 1 WTA ranking. Coco Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round by Naomi Osaka, whose resurgence in form has been noted after a period away from tennis; Gauff's exit ensures Iga Swiatek remains at No. 2 in the rankings, maintaining the battle for second place. Day 9 of the tournament saw dominant straight-set victories by top players like Jannik Sinner, Naomi Osaka, and Iga Swiatek, leading to some disappointment over the lack of competitive matches. Sabalenka, Gauff, and Swiatek are viewed as the leading contenders for the US Open title, though Sabalenka's recent performances have confirmed she will remain world No. 1 after the tournament, while Gauff and Swiatek can no longer surpass her. The semifinal showdown between Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula is highly anticipated, as it revisits last year’s final clash. Overall, the tournament continues to highlight a mixture of emerging dominance, ranking battles, and injury setbacks affecting key players.