Coco Gauff produced a dramatic comeback at the US Open, saving two match points before defeating Mirra Andreeva to book a semi-final showdown with incoming world No. 1 Elena Rybakina.
The fourth-seeded American recovered from a disastrous opening set to defeat Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 in front of an energized home crowd in New York.
Gauff struggled badly early in the match, winning only five of the first 21 points as Andreeva raced through the opening set in just 26 minutes.
The 22-year-old American responded in the second but twice surrendered breaks of serve after moving ahead at 4-2 and 5-3. The set eventually went to a tense tie-break, where Gauff overcame an early double fault and saved two match points before prevailing 9-7.
That escape transformed the match.
With the crowd firmly behind her, Gauff took control of the deciding set as Andreeva began to struggle with her composure. The Russian committed 14 unforced errors in the third set compared with only two from Gauff, who pulled away to complete the comeback.
Despite the victory, it was an unusually error-filled performance from the two-time Grand Slam champion. Gauff finished with 22 winners and 42 unforced errors, including 12 double faults, but delivered her best tennis when the match was on the line.
Gauff said she drew inspiration from fellow American Frances Tiafoe’s comeback victory over Alex Michelsen a night earlier and was determined to leave the court without regrets.
The victory sends Gauff into consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals and marks her first appearance in the US Open final four since she won the tournament in 2023. She also captured the French Open title in 2025.
Rybakina awaits in semi-finals
Gauff will next face second seed Elena Rybakina, who battled past Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in her quarter-final.
Rybakina dropped a set for the first time during this year’s tournament and faced a break point in the deciding set before recovering to secure the victory.
Her run to the semi-finals also guarantees that she will become world No. 1 for the first time in her career.
The women’s semi-final field features the tournament’s top four seeds — Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Gauff — marking the first time the four highest-seeded women have all reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009.
For Gauff, however, the quarter-final will be remembered primarily for survival. After being comprehensively outplayed in the opening set and standing twice just one point from elimination, the American found a way back into the match and ultimately took control when it mattered most.
