Gauff beats Andreeva to reach US Open semifinals in comeback win

Published On 9 Sep 20269 Sep 2026.

Key points

• This person asserted the top ranking ‌with a win earlier in the day over Zheng Qinwen of China.
• Gauff and the Kazakh second seed have one win apiece in career head-to-head, with Rybakina winning their most recent encounter in the semi-finals in Toronto ‌last ‌month.
• Gauff, who took a break in the locker room between sets, took inspiration from her compatriot Frances Tiafoe.
• "Elena – she's the new world number one so it's going to be a tough match, " remarked Gauff.
• She faces second seed ⁠Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.

American Coco Gauff saved two match points to beat Russian fifth seed ⁠Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (7), ⁠6-2 on Wednesday and reach the US Open semi-finals after recovering from a dreadful opening set.

Meanwhile, the 2023 champion had none of her usual firepower at first and was ⁠on the ropes in the tiebreak before she flipped the script and closed out the match with a forehand strike, dropping her racket to the court in joy and relief. She faces second seed ⁠Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals. "The motto of the match was just to fight, " remarked Gauff.

Andreeva looked completely at home in New York City's Arthur Ashe Stadium as she sprinted through the first four games, never allowing Gauff to set up a break-point chance in the opening set where the Russian had just five unforced errors to ‌14 from her opponent.

Gauff, who took a break in the locker room between sets, took inspiration from her compatriot Frances Tiafoe. This person recovered from two sets and a breakdown on Tuesday night to reach the semi-finals on the men's side.

"I just had to reset. I came out not feeling the ball, giving her too plenty of free points, " stated Gauff. "I was thinking regarding Frances Tiafoe and how he came back yesterday. And we all want to do well in front ⁠of this crowd."

Gauff finally discovered some momentum in the second set and ⁠was serving for the match in the ninth game when old matters with her serve resurfaced. She produced three double faults, allowing her opponent to break back.

Undeterred, Gauff recovered her poise and deployed a perfectly placed backhand to win a 39-shot ⁠rally, twice saving match point before forcing the third set with a forehand shot to the corner that Andreeva could not contain.

She kept up ⁠the pace from there, and Andreeva flung her racket at her ⁠bench in disgust after dropping her serve in the third game of the decider. Gauff broke her to love in the seventh game to put the contest completely out of reach.

She faces a formidable foe in Rybakina. This person asserted the top ranking ‌with a win earlier in the day over Zheng Qinwen of China.

"Elena – she's the new world number one so it's going to be a tough match, " remarked Gauff. "I'm looking forward to the battle. These are the moments you live for."

Taken together, the developments around gauff beats Andreeva to reach US Open semifinals in comeback win point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.