Coco Gauff managed to pull off a dramatic rescue, saving two match points before clinching a three‑set triumph over the teenage French Open champion Mirra Andreeva. The win paves the way for a high‑stakes semifinal clash with the freshly crowned world No. 1, Elena Rybakina, at the US Open. The match began disastrously for the 2023 US Open champion.
Gauff’s serve faltered and her forehand fell silent, allowing Andreeva to race to a 6‑2 first‑set lead in just 26 minutes. During that opening set Gauff recorded only three winners while committing 14 unforced errors, a stark contrast to the powerful tennis that had carried her to the final the previous year. The second set saw a noticeable shift. Gauff found a rhythm, extending rallies and reducing her error count.
The set progressed to a tiebreak, where Andreeva, seeded fifth, squandered two opportunities that could have sealed the match. The missed chances seemed to affect the Russian’s composure; she grew frustrated and, in a moment of anger, hurled her racket toward her chair. The wayward racket spun across the court, narrowly missing a camera operator who had to leap out of its path.
That incident underscored the tension simmering on Flushing Meadows. Eventually Gauff turned the tide, capturing the tiebreak 7‑6 (7) and then dominating the decisive third set 6‑2. After the win she explained that she drew inspiration from a fellow American’s comeback earlier in the tournament. "I just had to reset," Gauff said.
"I came out at the start not feeling the ball, giving her too many free points. After the first set I went to the restroom and thought about Frances Tiafoe’s comeback yesterday. We all want to do well in front of this crowd.
I was trying to leave the court with no regrets; I didn’t know what the outcome would be. You guys really helped pull me through." Commentators were quick to praise Gauff’s resilience.
Marion Bartoli of Sky Sports Tennis described the performance as "pure heart," noting that the ability to find a way on a given day matters more than any ranking. She added, "She’s the one tomorrow in the semi‑final of the US Open.
If she wins the US Open, no one will remember her level here in the quarters. Coco Gauff is one of the only players in the world capable of winning a match like that." Tim Henman, also from Sky Sports, highlighted the technical aspects of the contest. He observed that both competitors possessed the talent to produce spectacular tennis, but serving issues and a cascade of unforced errors caused the quality to dip. "The ball speed deteriorated, and went down and down.
But that’s the beauty of tennis – it’s about keeping the ball in play and cutting out unforced errors," Henman explained. He also remarked on the psychological impact of the loss for Andreeva, who had held match points in the second set. "It will be a very difficult defeat for Andreeva to get over, but she will learn a lot from it.
She’ll be incredibly disappointed." Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina secured the world No. 1 ranking after a hard‑fought victory over Qinwen Zheng, which also guaranteed her a place in the semifinals. The 27‑year‑old Kazakhstani will replace Aryna Sabalenka, whose 99‑week reign at the top ends on Monday. Rybakina, the Australian Open champion, has been chasing Sabalenka all season and will claim the No.
1 spot for the first time in her career, even if Sabalenka goes on to win a third consecutive US Open title. Rybakina reflected on her ascent with a measured tone: "It’s just a number right now, I’m only in the semis and the goal is to win every tournament I play.
I feel like I just need to focus on my game and enjoy tomorrow." She dropped a set for the first time this fortnight but rebounded strongly in the second. Zheng, who endured nearly 12 hours on court through three qualifying matches and five main‑draw rounds, finally succumbed in the decider as Rybakina prevailed 3‑6, 6‑1, 6‑4. Rybakina admitted the match was a struggle: "It’s tough to find words.
It was a very difficult match, lots of nerves, maybe not the highest level but I’m glad I pushed through. I didn’t start that well, I was too negative.
It was a lot of unforced errors but I told myself to keep fighting." Zheng, the 23‑year‑old from China, had been enjoying an Emma Raducanu‑style surge in New York. Although her fairy‑tale run ended, she remains on the cusp of breaking back into the top 50 after dropping to 121 following elbow surgery. Henman also praised Rybakina’s response after a shaky start: "It ended up being a really good performance. It wasn’t the best start from Rybakina, Zheng had something to do with that, but the way she responded in the second and third sets was impressive.
She was more aggressive from the back of the courts. In that third set, when it was tight, Rybakina really did show her class." The upcoming semifinal promises a clash of contrasting styles: Gauff’s youthful aggression and tenacity versus Rybakina’s powerful baseline game and newfound confidence as the world’s top‑ranked player.
Both athletes have demonstrated the mental fortitude required to navigate the pressure‑filled environment of Flushing Meadows, and fans can expect a tightly contested encounter that could very well decide the next champion of the US Open. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Tennis enthusiasts can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.