Coco Gauff demonstrated extraordinary resilience on September 9, 2026, saving two match points during a dramatic comeback victory over Mirra Andreeva at Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to the US Open semi-finals. The fourth-seeded American will face incoming world number one Elena Rybakina, who earlier defeated Zheng Qinwen to secure her maiden ranking milestone.
Gauff's path to the last four proved far more complicated than her seeding suggested. Overwhelmed in the opening set, which lasted just 26 minutes, she found herself in a precarious position during the second set when Andreeva twice broke her serve. The match pivoted on a tense 16-point tie-break that Gauff eventually claimed 9-7, forcing a decisive third set where her mental fortitude ultimately prevailed in a 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 triumph.
The American credited her comeback to the inspiration of fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe, whose own comeback victory over Alex Michelsen on Tuesday night had energized her mindset.
"At the end of the first set I was thinking about Frances and how he came back yesterday," Gauff said. "We all want to do well in front of this crowd. Honestly, I was just trying to leave the court with no regrets."
This result marks Gauff's return to consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals as a two-time major champion. Her progression to the last four also represents her first appearance in a US Open semi-final since capturing the title in 2023. According to , Gauff had never lost to Andreeva in their previous meetings, holding a 5-0 head-to-head record before this quarter-final clash.
The women's singles draw has now produced an exceptionally rare outcome: all four top seeds have reached the semi-finals at a major championship. This level of seeding strength has not occurred since Wimbledon in 2009, following the earlier progression of top seed Aryna Sabalenka and third seed Jessica Pegula on Tuesday.
How did Gauff overcome such a poor start?
Gauff's opening performance bore little resemblance to her eventual dominance. She won just five of the opening 21 points as Andreeva seized control and claimed the first set with ease. In the second set, Gauff managed to break serve at 4-2 and again at 5-3, yet failed to consolidate either advantage as Andreeva fought back into contention.
The turning point arrived during the tie-break, where a double fault at the outset seemed to foreshadow another setback. However, the 22-year-old maintained her composure when it mattered most, saving two match points in succession—a moment that proved decisive in shifting momentum entirely. By the third set, Gauff had transformed into an entirely different competitor, dominating the clutch moments and closing out the match with commanding tennis.
Gauff's statistical profile revealed the magnitude of her struggle: she struck 22 winners but committed 42 unforced errors, including 12 double faults. Yet in the final set, she recorded just two unforced errors while Andreeva accumulated 14, demonstrating a stark reversal in control and composure.
Former British number one Annabel Croft offered perspective on the transformation:
"You have to admire how Coco does this. She's done it so many times in her career. She's 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. We've been blessed with the amount of intriguing matches we've had. You're seeing these warriors out on court. It's the ability of one of the gladiators to get themselves back in it."
What does Rybakina's victory mean for the rankings?
Rybakina's progression to the semi-finals has secured her position as world number one for the first time in her career, making her the first Kazakhstani man or woman to reach the top of the rankings. She arrived at the US Open trailing Aryna Sabalenka by just 434 points, and according to , reaching the semi-finals guaranteed her the ranking milestone.
The 27-year-old achieved this milestone after defeating Zheng Qinwen 3-6 6-1 6-4 in her quarter-final. Rybakina recovered from losing a set for the first time in the tournament and navigated a break-point deficit in the deciding set to secure her passage. She is now just two victories away from capturing a second major title this season, having won the Australian Open in January.
What might have been for Zheng's resurgent campaign?
Zheng's quarter-final loss to Rybakina represents a missed opportunity in what had otherwise been a remarkable tournament run. The 23-year-old, ranked 121st heading into the competition after elbow surgery in July 2025, navigated three qualifying rounds before registering her first Grand Slam main-draw victory since last year's French Open.
Her path to the quarter-finals included a stunning upset over 22nd seed Madison Keys, whom she defeated after trailing 5-0 in the third set and saving match point. She subsequently defeated eighth seed Iga Swiatek to reach her third quarter-final in New York. According to France 24, Zheng has now compiled a 0-3 losing record in US Open quarter-finals.
The reigning Olympic champion's ranking has surged from 121st to 52nd in the live rankings, and she carries just 65 points to defend for the remainder of the season. However, her performance against Rybakina left a sense of unfulfilled potential. Zheng broke late in the first set and staved off five break points to secure a 1-0 lead, yet was completely overwhelmed in the second set as her second serve came under considerable pressure.
In the decider, Zheng earned a break point in the eighth game but missed a routine backhand pass. She then fought back brilliantly from 0-40 to deuce in the following game, only to follow a loose backhand with a double fault as her hopes of reaching a maiden US Open semi-final evaporated.
What happens next in the women's semi-finals?
Gauff will face Rybakina in the US Open semi-finals following both players' advancement from the quarter-finals. According to , the semi-final matchup represents a significant test for both competitors as they pursue a place in the championship match.
The other semi-final will feature top seed Sabalenka against third seed Jessica Pegula, who both progressed on Tuesday. This configuration ensures that the women's singles final will be contested between two of the tournament's top seeds, reflecting the exceptional strength of the draw at this year's US Open.
Key Facts:
- Gauff saved two match points in the second-set tie-break before dominating the third set to defeat Andreeva 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2
- Rybakina clinched the world number one ranking by reaching the semi-finals, becoming the first Kazakhstani player to achieve the milestone
- All four top seeds have reached the semi-finals, a rarity not seen at a major championship since Wimbledon 2009
- Zheng's quarter-final loss extended her US Open quarter-final record to 0-3 despite her remarkable comeback from 121st in the rankings
- Gauff returns to the US Open semi-finals for the first time since winning the title in 2023
