Coco Gauff fought off two match points, storming back from a set down to beat Mirra Andreeva and punch her ticket to the US Open semi-finals. This epic comeback sets up an absolute blockbuster clash against incoming world number one, Elena Rybakina. Seriously, this match was a rollercoaster, and Gauff showed exactly why she’s a two-time major champ.
Gauff’s Unbelievable Grit: No Regrets Left on the Court
Talk about a gut check! Gauff looked totally out of it in the first set, getting absolutely blown away in a mere 26 minutes. And it got scrappy, with her twice getting pegged back from a break up in the second set. She racked up 42 unforced errors, including a staggering 12 double faults, against only 22 winners. She won just five of the opening 21 points! This wasn’t her cleanest tennis by a long shot. She even double-faulted at the start of the tie-break, which felt ominous. But you know what? When it mattered most, she dug deep.
Roared on by an absolutely electric crowd, Gauff battled through a 16-point tie-break and then dominated the clutch moments in the decider for a 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 win. She told reporters she was thinking about Frances Tiafoe’s comeback victory from Tuesday, saying, “We all want to do well in front of this crowd. Honestly, I was just trying to leave the court with no regrets.” Former British number one Annabel Croft nailed it, saying Gauff was “unrecognisable from the player at the start of this match. She was subdued and playing defensive tennis. By the end, she was completely controlling the match.” That kind of mental toughness is why she’s a superstar.
Rybakina Reaches the Top, Zheng Impresses
Earlier, Elena Rybakina pulled off her own comeback, recovering after losing a set for the first time in this tournament and going break-point down in the decider. She beat Zheng Qinwen 3-6 6-1 6-4, securing her spot in the semi-finals and, crucially, guaranteeing she’ll be the new world number one! That’s huge for her, becoming the first Kazakhstani player, man or woman, to reach that milestone. She was only 434 points behind Aryna Sabalenka coming into the US Open, and she absolutely earned this. Rybakina’s already got the Australian Open title from January, so she’s now two wins away from her second major of the season.
We also gotta shout out Zheng Qinwen. She put together an entertaining run to the last eight, and honestly, her achievements shouldn’t be overlooked. After elbow surgery in July 2025, she dropped out of the top 100, then fought through three qualifying rounds to get her first Grand Slam main-draw win since last year’s French Open. What a comeback story for her, too!
The Final Four Is Set: What a Semifinal Awaits!
This is going to be epic. For the first time since Wimbledon in 2009, the top four seeds have reached the women’s singles semi-finals at a major, with Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula also progressing on Tuesday. So, now we’ve got Gauff, fresh off that insane comeback, taking on the new world number one, Rybakina, who’s looking for her second major title of the season. Talk about high stakes! You’re gonna want to grab your popcorn for this one because these two gladiators are about to put on a show for a spot in the US Open final.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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