Coco Gauff US Open Comeback Stuns Mirra Andreeva
The Coco Gauff US Open comeback produced one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament as the American saved two match points before defeating Mirra Andreeva to reach the women’s singles semi-finals.
Gauff looked in serious trouble after losing the opening set 6-2 and then finding herself on the brink of elimination during a tense second-set tiebreak.
But the 2023 US Open champion refused to surrender.
She saved two match points, fought her way through the tiebreak and then took control of the deciding set to complete a remarkable 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory.
The match lasted two hours and 19 minutes and extended Gauff’s winning streak to 11 matches. She has also now won 20 of her past 22 matches dating back to Wimbledon.
Her reward is a blockbuster semi-final against Elena Rybakina, who will officially become the new women’s world No. 1 following the US Open.
Andreeva Dominates the Opening Set
The match could hardly have started worse for Gauff.
Andreeva won the opening seven points and immediately established control.
The Russian repeatedly forced Gauff into uncomfortable positions, while the American struggled to find consistency with her serve and forehand.
Gauff committed too many errors and appeared unable to establish the aggressive rhythm she needed.
Andreeva capitalised.
The fifth seed raced through the first set 6-2 in just 26 minutes, leaving Gauff facing the possibility of a surprisingly quick quarter-final exit.
For Andreeva, everything seemed to be working.
For Gauff, a change was urgently needed.
Gauff Refuses to Give Up
The second set was entirely different.
Gauff began competing with greater intensity and started extending rallies rather than allowing Andreeva to dictate points.
The American crowd also became increasingly involved.
Arthur Ashe Stadium sensed that Gauff was beginning to find a way back into the match.
Neither player was able to establish decisive control, eventually sending the second set into a tiebreak.
That was where the drama intensified.
Andreeva moved within a single point of the semi-finals.
Twice.
Gauff saved two match points, displaying the defensive ability and mental resilience that have become such important parts of her game.
One of the defining moments was an extraordinary 39-shot rally on match point, which ended with Gauff producing a backhand winner to keep herself alive.
It was the kind of point that could completely change a match.
Gauff eventually secured the tiebreak 9-7, levelling the match at one set each.
Suddenly, the momentum had completely shifted.
Deciding Set Belongs to Gauff
After surviving two match points, Gauff entered the third set with renewed confidence.
Andreeva, meanwhile, struggled to recover emotionally from coming so close to victory.
Gauff recognised the opportunity.
She increased the pressure on Andreeva’s serve and began winning more of the important exchanges.
The American broke twice during the deciding set and gradually pulled away.
Gauff eventually completed the comeback 6-2, sealing victory with a powerful forehand.
From being two points away from elimination, she suddenly found herself celebrating another US Open semi-final.
It was an extraordinary turnaround.
Gauff’s Fighting Spirit Makes the Difference
After the match, Gauff summed up her approach simply: the key was to keep fighting.
That mentality was evident throughout the second and third sets.
Gauff was nowhere near her best during the opening stages.
Her serve caused problems, her forehand was inconsistent and Andreeva looked much more comfortable.
But the player producing perfect tennis does not always win Grand Slam matches.
Sometimes a player wins by surviving long enough to find a solution.
That is precisely what Gauff did.
Instead of allowing the poor opening set to define the match, she remained competitive until her game improved.
The result demonstrated why the American remains one of the most dangerous players in women’s tennis.
Gauff Continues Dominance Over Andreeva
The result also extended Gauff’s remarkable record against Andreeva.
Gauff is now 6-0 against the Russian on the WTA Tour.
Perhaps even more impressively, three of those victories have come after Gauff lost the opening set.
That suggests there is something about this particular matchup that allows Gauff to find solutions even when Andreeva initially appears to have control.
Andreeva remains one of the outstanding young talents in women’s tennis.
But once again, she was unable to finish Gauff off.
Elena Rybakina Awaits in the Semi-Final
Gauff will face an even tougher challenge.
Her semi-final opponent will be Elena Rybakina, who produced a comeback of her own against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.
Rybakina lost the opening set before responding emphatically.
She defeated Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes to reach the US Open semi-finals for the first time.
The third set provided its own dramatic moment.
Rybakina trailed 4-3 and faced a break point that would have allowed Zheng to serve for the match.
She saved it with an aggressive move to the net.
From there, Rybakina surged through three consecutive games to secure victory.
That means both women enter their semi-final after demonstrating impressive resilience under enormous pressure.
Rybakina Will Become World No. 1
There is another major storyline surrounding Gauff’s next opponent.
Rybakina’s quarter-final victory guaranteed that she will become the new WTA world No. 1 after the tournament.
It will be the first time the Kazakhstan star has reached the top of the women’s rankings.
Rybakina becomes the 30th woman in WTA history to hold the No. 1 position.
Her rise also brings an end to Aryna Sabalenka’s 99 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings.
For Rybakina, reaching No. 1 represents another major milestone in an outstanding season.
However, she still has unfinished business in New York.
She now has a chance to reach her first US Open final — but Gauff is in her way.
Elena Rybakina Promises Blockbuster
The Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina semi-final looks set to be a fascinating contest.
Their career head-to-head is currently tied 1-1.
Gauff won their first meeting in Toronto in 2022, surviving an extremely tight encounter 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(3).
Rybakina levelled the rivalry only weeks ago at the 2026 Toronto tournament.
On that occasion, Gauff took the opening set 7-5 before Rybakina responded emphatically to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
That recent result gives Gauff an immediate reference point for what she needs to improve.
Rybakina possesses one of the most powerful serves in women’s tennis and can dominate points quickly when she is able to take control from the baseline.
Gauff’s strengths are different.
Her athleticism, defensive skills, court coverage and ability to turn defence into attack can force opponents to play additional shots.
That contrast should make their US Open semi-final particularly compelling.
Gauff Chasing Second US Open Crown
For Gauff, New York already holds special memories.
She won her first Grand Slam singles championship at the 2023 US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Interestingly, that match also required a comeback.
Gauff lost the opening set before recovering to win the championship.
Three years later, she is once again demonstrating her ability to survive difficult situations at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Her victory over Andreeva puts her two wins away from another US Open title.
But the path could hardly be more difficult.
First comes the incoming world No. 1.
If Gauff gets through Rybakina, another elite opponent will be waiting in the final.
Remarkable Women’s Semi-Final Line-Up
The women’s tournament has produced an exceptionally strong final four.
Gauff and Rybakina will contest one semi-final, while Aryna Sabalenka faces Jessica Pegula in the other.
That means the tournament’s top four women’s seeds have all reached the semi-finals.
There is also significant American interest.
Gauff and Pegula both remain capable of giving the home crowd an American champion.
For Gauff in particular, the support inside Arthur Ashe Stadium could become important if her semi-final develops into another long battle.
Why Gauff’s Comeback Matters
The scoreline tells only part of the story.
Gauff did not simply come from a set behind.
She survived two match points when her US Open campaign was effectively hanging by a thread.
One point going differently could have sent Andreeva into the semi-finals.
Instead, Gauff stayed alive, won the tiebreak and then dominated the deciding set.
That ability to recover when she is playing below her best is often what separates Grand Slam champions from the rest of the field.
The Coco Gauff US Open comeback was therefore more than another victory.
It was a demonstration of resilience under extreme pressure.
What Happens Next?
Gauff will now prepare for her semi-final against Rybakina.
The match is scheduled for Friday, 11 September, with a place in the US Open women’s singles final at stake.
Gauff will need to serve more consistently than she did against Andreeva.
Allowing Rybakina to attack too many second serves could prove extremely dangerous.
Rybakina, meanwhile, will want to use her powerful first serve and aggressive baseline game to prevent Gauff from settling into long defensive rallies.
Their recent Toronto meeting showed how quickly Rybakina can take control once she finds her rhythm.
But Gauff has just demonstrated something equally important: even when she appears close to defeat, she is extremely difficult to finish off.
Conclusion
The Coco Gauff US Open comeback will be remembered as one of the standout performances of the 2026 tournament.
After losing the first set 6-2 against Mirra Andreeva, Gauff fought back, saved two match points in a dramatic second-set tiebreak and eventually completed a remarkable 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory.
Now comes an even bigger challenge.
Gauff will face Elena Rybakina, who defeated Zheng Qinwen in three sets and has secured her place as the next world No. 1.
With their head-to-head tied 1-1 and both players arriving after dramatic quarter-final comebacks, the stage is set for a fascinating US Open semi-final.
For Gauff, the dream of winning another title in New York remains very much alive.
