Coco Gauff demonstrated remarkable resilience in a three‑set battle against teenage French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, saving two match points before ultimately prevailing and earning a place in the semifinals where she will meet the freshly crowned world No.1, Elena Rybakina. The encounter began disastrously for the 2023 US Open champion, whose serve faltered and forehand sputtered, allowing Andreeva to seize the opening set in a swift 26 minutes. Gauff managed only three winners while committing 14 unforced errors, a stark contrast to her usual aggressive baseline play.
The second set proved far more competitive, stretching to a tiebreak. Andreeva, seeded fifth, had opportunities to close out the match but squandered two critical points, allowing Gauff to claw back into contention. Frustration boiled over for the Russian when she threw her racket toward her chair, unintentionally sending it flying toward a nearby camera operator who narrowly avoided being struck.
The incident seemed to shift the momentum, and Gauff capitalized, eventually taking the tiebreak 7‑6 (7) and riding that surge into a decisive third set, which she won 6‑2. After the victory, Gauff explained that she drew inspiration from fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who had staged a comeback the previous day. "I just had to reset," she said.
"I went into the restroom after the first set and thought about Tiafoe’s turnaround. I wanted to leave the court with no regrets, and the crowd really helped me push through." Commentators praised Gauff’s tenacity. Marion Bartoli of Sky Sports Tennis highlighted the "pure heart" Gauff displayed, noting that the ability to find a way on the day transcends rankings.
Bartoli added, "If she wins the US Open, nobody will remember how she played in the quarterfinals – they’ll only recall the title. Coco Gauff is one of the few players capable of pulling off a win like that." Tim Henman, also from Sky Sports, observed that both competitors possessed the talent to produce spectacular tennis, but errors and serving issues made the match tense. He emphasized that tennis is ultimately about minimizing unforced mistakes and keeping the ball in play, and that Andreeva would likely feel the sting of losing after holding match points. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina secured the world No.1 ranking by defeating Qinwen Zheng, cementing her ascent after a season of chasing the top spot from Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina, the 27‑year‑old Kazakhstani who captured the Australian Open title earlier in the year, will replace Sabalenka, whose 99‑week reign ends on Monday. Even if Sabalenka were to win a third consecutive US Open, Rybakina would retain the No.1 position, underscoring the significance of her recent semifinal run.
Rybakina reflected on her achievement with a modest perspective: "It’s just a number right now. I’m only in the semis; my goal is to win every tournament I enter.
I need to focus on my game and enjoy tomorrow." Her semifinal match against Zheng was a test of endurance; Zheng had endured nearly 12 hours of court time across three qualifying rounds and five main‑draw matches. Rybakina dropped the first set 3‑6 but rebounded emphatically, taking the next two sets 6‑1, 6‑4. She admitted the opening set was shaky, citing negativity and unforced errors, but emphasized her determination to fight back.
Zheng, a 23‑year‑old from China, had been enjoying a breakthrough run reminiscent of Emma Raducanu’s Cinderella story, but an elbow surgery had previously forced her ranking down to 121. Despite the loss, she remains on the cusp of breaking back into the top 50, illustrating the depth of talent on display at Flushing Meadows. Both Bartoli and Henman lauded Rybakina’s performance, noting her aggressive play from the backcourt and her composure during the tight third set. Henman remarked, "She showed her class when the pressure was highest, turning a rough start into a dominant finish." Looking ahead, the US Open semifinals promise a compelling narrative: a young American star who survived a near‑defeat versus a newly minted world No.1 who has been on a meteoric rise.
Gauff’s ability to reset under pressure and Rybakina’s relentless pursuit of excellence set the stage for a high‑stakes encounter that could define the remainder of the tournament. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports beginning August 30, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup scheduled for later in September at the O2 in London.