- Coco Gauff produced a remarkable comeback against Mirra Andreeva, recovering from a poor opening set and saving two match points to reach the US Open semi-finals.
- The 2023 champion lost the first set in just 26 minutes but fought back to win 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 in a dramatic quarter-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- Gauff drew inspiration from Frances Tiafoe’s comeback victory the previous day, saying the American’s resilience helped her believe she could turn the match around.
- Gauff will now face newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who also recovered from a set down to defeat Qinwen Zheng and reach her first US Open semi-final.
September 10 (THEWILL) – Coco Gauff’s route back to the US Open semi-finals appeared to be disappearing rapidly during the opening set.
The American struggled to find any rhythm against Mirra Andreeva, with her serve and forehand repeatedly letting her down. Gauff managed just three winners while committing 14 unforced errors as the Russian fifth seed raced through the first set 6-2 in only 26 minutes.
Andreeva, the recent French Open champion, looked increasingly comfortable against a player she had never previously beaten. Gauff had won all five of their previous meetings before Wednesday’s quarter-final, but that advantage appeared irrelevant as the teenager controlled the early exchanges.
For Gauff, something had to change quickly.
Two Match Points Change Everything
The turning point came in the second-set tie-break.
Gauff had improved considerably, but Andreeva still had the opportunity to finish the match. The Russian earned two match points, putting Gauff one mistake away from a straight-set exit.
Instead, the American found another level.
Gauff saved both match points and eventually claimed the tie-break 9-7, forcing the contest into a deciding set and completely changing the mood inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It was the kind of escape that can transform a match.
Gauff later revealed that she had been thinking about Frances Tiafoe, who had produced his own dramatic comeback against Alex Michelsen less than 24 hours earlier.
“I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back yesterday,” Gauff said, explaining that she simply wanted to leave the court without regrets.
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Andreeva Loses Control as Gauff Takes Over
The emotional swing was now firmly in Gauff’s favour.
After winning the second set, the American played with greater freedom and began putting pressure on Andreeva’s serve. The Russian’s frustration became increasingly visible, and at one stage she risked being defaulted after throwing her racket towards her chair, with the racket spinning towards a nearby camera operator.
Gauff remained composed.
The American broke away in the deciding set and never allowed Andreeva back into the contest, completing a 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory to reach the semi-finals for the second time in her career.
The comeback also underlined why Gauff remains such a dangerous opponent even when her tennis is not at its best.
Sky Sports analyst Marion Bartoli described the performance as a display of “pure heart”, while Tim Henman highlighted how difficult the defeat would be for Andreeva after having match points within reach.
Rybakina Now Stands in Gauff’s Way
Gauff’s reward is a semi-final against a player who created her own comeback story earlier in the day.
Elena Rybakina recovered from losing the opening set against Qinwen Zheng to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reach the final four at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
The victory also confirmed Rybakina as the new world No. 1, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top of the rankings. The Kazakh will officially take over when the rankings are updated on Monday.
Rybakina is also chasing a third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open earlier this year, meaning Gauff faces a player who enters the semi-final with both momentum and a new status at the top of women’s tennis.
The pair have split their previous two meetings, with Rybakina winning their most recent encounter in Toronto.
Gauff’s Biggest Test Is Next
Gauff has now survived one of the toughest tests she could have faced at the US Open.
She was outplayed for much of the opening set, faced match points and watched an opponent with genuine Grand Slam pedigree come within moments of victory.
Yet she found a way through.
That resilience could prove just as important as her best tennis when she faces Rybakina.
The American is now two wins away from another US Open title, but the next one will require a completely different challenge. Against the newly crowned world No. 1, Gauff will need more than another escape.
She will need to start better — and finish stronger.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
