By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Picture credit score: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
NEW YORK—The writing was on the wall and Coco Gauff couldn’t ignore its affect.
Going through two match factors within the tiebreaker—and seeing these desolate digits flashing on the scoreboard—Gauff relied on quick toes and fearless strikes to utterly flip the script.
The 2023 US Open champion Gauff fought off match factors within the second set breaker then closed with command roaring previous Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 to land her second US Open semifinal within the final 4 years.
A decided Gauff stood as much as extreme stress and recalibrated her forehand wing that failed her within the opening set.
In the long run, Gauff overcame 12 double faults, a bucket stuffed with forehand errors and a Grand Slam champion opponent, storming by means of 12 of the ultimate 15 factors sustaining her mastery over the proficient Andreeva.
Cincinnati Open champion Gauff scored her eleventh consecutive victory, elevating her 2026 report to 45-13.
“Truthfully, simply believing is all I can do. I imply, the sport could not all the time present up, however, you realize, I can management the idea in myself,” Gauff mentioned. “I believe even when it’s delusional, I believe the extra cases that
I hold displaying up and possibly being profitable in these moments, possibly that delusion will probably be extra factual, I assume, yeah.”
In a conflict of the present and former French Open champions, Gauff improved to 6-0 versus Andreeva.
The 2-time Grand Slam champion drew one closing error to shut in two hours, 19 minutes. Then Gauff flung her Head racquet apart, yelled to her field “all coronary heart!” and pounded her palm towards her chest punctuating a heart-racing rally.
Afterward, Gauff credited buddy Massive Foe, Frances Tiafoe, for uplifting this comeback. Yesterday, Tiafoe went full warrior mode rallying from two units all the way down to defeat Alex Michelsen.
In a pulsating all-American conflict, Tiafoe dug out of a two-set deficit and an 0-3 gap within the fifth set edging Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) to scrape into his third US Open semifinal. Gauff recalled Massive Foe’s stirring stand when she was down in the present day.
“I believe I simply needed to reset. I imply I got here out not feeling the ball giving her too many free factors. Mirra was taking part in a fantastic stage. Truthfully, I used to be fascinated by Frances Tiafoe and the way he got here again yesterday.
“All of us need to do properly in entrance of this crowd. I used to be truthfully attempting to actually depart this courtroom with no regrets. I didn’t understand how the result would come. Actually, actually, actually thanks to you guys [the crowd] since you assist me pull this one by means of.”
The fourth-seeded Gauff superior to tomorrow night time’s semifinals towards second-seeded Elena Rybakina.
In a career-changing conflict, Rybakina rallied previous Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to her maiden US Open semifinal and seize the world No. 1 rating for the primary time.
Australian Open champion Rybakina, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka within the Australian Open closing in January, surpassed present No. 1 Sabalenka to grab the highest spot. When the brand new WTA rankings are launched on Monday, the 27-year-old Rybakina will high the world.
“If I play Coco, in fact I’ll anticipate that lots of people going to help her. It’s regular,” mentioned Rybakina, who’s 1-1 vs. Gauff. “We practiced many instances. We performed lately additionally, so we all know one another.
“Once more, I simply want to remain aggressive. Strive not my feelings not let me play, and yeah, simply get pleasure from. I believe from the place I used to be coming to this event, being injured and never practising, I believe we got here fairly far.
“Now we simply final pushes and necessary to nonetheless get pleasure from. Yeah, hopefully it’s going to go my manner.”
Gauff’s gripping comeback means the Prime 4 ladies’s seeds all superior to the ultimate 4.
Two-time defending champion and top-seeded Sabalenka will face third-seeded Jessica Pegula in a semifinal rematch of the 2024 closing.
Rybakina vs. Gauff shapes up as a rally exterminator vs. some extent extender.
“I imply, Elena is taking part in some nice tennis,” Gauff mentioned. “You understand, congrats to her for being the brand new World No. 1 or would be the new World No. 1. I believe that’s unbelievable.
“We performed one another in Toronto. You understand, didn’t go my manner, so I believe I simply should be taught from that match. I do know I’m going to have some aces hit on me and a few winners hit on me, however I’m going to maintain preventing and provides it my all. That’s all I can do.”
Absolutely, Andreeva will rue this defeat—particularly given she totally outplayed Gauff for a set bleeding errors from the American’s forehand wing that look wounded early.
The fifth-seeded Andreeva had a number of possibilities to attain a straight-sets win. Gauff was serving down break level at 5-all within the second set when Andreeva pounced throughout a brief forehand.
Andreeva flagged that forehand into the online so as an alternative of the break, a 6-5 lead and the chance to serve for the semifinal, she noticed Gauff dig in and maintain for 6-5.
Within the second-set tiebreaker, the pair went toe-to-toe in a crackling 39 shot trade—the longest rally of this US Open to this point—and Gauff drizzled a deft drop shot to go up 5-3.
Andreeva got here proper again and when Gauff shoveled a forehand into web she had her first match level at 6-5. Andreeva had a great have a look at a forehand go, however as an alternative of constructing Gauff really feel the strain and make a volley, she sailed it lengthy.
An Andreeva lob arrange a second match level at 7-6, however she struck a timid first serve, Gauff jumped on it and drew the error for 7-All.
Credit score Gauff for her tactical adjustment. Realizing she wasn’t feeling the ball absolutely, Gauff attacked behind a backhand and drew the error for a second set level at 8-7.
Going proper again on the assault, Gauff streaked to web and drew a netted forehand as Arthur Ashe Stadium followers erupted in a sustained ovation with a 3rd set looming after one hour, 47 minutes.
The ability to shift gears and compete even when her greatest tennis eludes her and her forehand fails her is likely one of the important components to Gauff’s sport.
Clad in pale yellow, Gauff acquired off to a sloppy begin slicing a forehand into web to give up serve at love.
Andreeva was working over Gauff’s forehand from the outset as she gained seven factors in a row to open then held at 30 to verify the break for 2-0.
The fourth-seeded Gauff couldn’t discover her groove early. Gauff spit up a double fault and sailed a forehand as Andreeva broke once more for a 3-0 lead after simply eight minutes of play.
When the reigning Roland Garros champion blasted an ace down the T holding for 4-0 the group inside Ashe Stadium went quiet for a second.
Although Gauff held within the fifth sport to get on the board, her forehand failures have been mounting.
Focusing on the Gauff unruly forehand wing, Andreeva drew a netted forehand return for 30-Love. Gauff had hit 9 forehand errors when she yanked a forehand return vast handy Andreeva set level.
Andreeva darted a serve winner down the T closing the 26-minute opener that noticed her serve 58 % and win 13 of 15 first-set factors within the set.
A visit to the semifinal was using on the third set and Gauff competed with extra readability and conviction.
Throughout the online, Andreeva’s judgment grew cloud. She hit a meek drop shot tapped what seemed to be a smash drop shot try into web to face break level. Gauff once more attacked—she was 19 of 28 at web in the present day—made three rapid-fire volleys and elicited a netted forehand breaking for 2-1.
That break empowered the Delray Seaside-born baseliner, who confirmed it with a love maintain.
By then, Andreeva had crossed the road from disconsolate to downright moody, mainly ignoring coach and former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who was attempting to awaken the Russian.
In an entire position reversal, Andreeva’s forehand went AWOL as she dedicated 4 errors in a row dropping serve at like to fall behind 2-5.
On her second match level, Gauff closed a compelling comeback and celebrated flipping her racquet apart in triumph.
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