(September 9, 2026) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY- Coco Gauff made a great escape in her quarterfinal match against Mirra Andreeva, 19 on Wednesday afternoon. The World No. 4 saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak to defeat No. 5 Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
In a contest between the two most recent French Open champions, Gauff, 22 came back from a horrific start and advanced to the semifinals of the US Open for the second time in her career.
Andreeva rushed out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, a combination of the Russian’s great play and Gauff’s errors and poor serving.
“It was a slow start.” Gauff said in her media conference. “I mean, I thought Mirra was playing a great level to come out, wasn’t really making a lot of mistakes, and forcing me into some errors.
“I think I was also, like, giving away points too sometimes or trying to end the point early, because I felt the pressure from her.
“I was able to reset and somehow get out of that one.”
Gauff was on the rebound in the second set, serving for it at 5-3, but her 8 double faults in the set set her back, and Andreeva was able to break serve and level the set. In the second-set tiebreak, Andreeva had two match points, but her own errors and Gauff’s more aggressive play pushed her to take the set 7-6(7).
Gauff said that she was inspired by Frances Tiafoe’s comeback win on Tuesday.
“I think Frances was looking — I was watching the end of that set, and it looked like he was down and out. And sometimes you just need a chance, and I think I got my chances today.
“I was just really determined to not lose that second set, because I felt like I worked so hard to give myself opportunities and lost them.
“Honestly, I didn’t know how the third set would go, but I was just really focused on trying not to lose that second set and keep it competitive. You know, one point turned into another. Honestly, once the third set started, I felt pretty confident that I was going to come out with that one.
“Yeah, I mean, sometimes you just need a little bit of inspiration, and Frances was that for me in that moment.”
“I think Frances is such a light and such a joy to have on tour. Always been so nice and just hyping me up and my family up.
“He’s a special type of person, and I think that everybody, almost everybody on tour, can agree that he’s one of the few players who is always lighting up the room and giving respect towards, especially us women too, like hyping us up.
“I think that’s something really special. He’s a rare person in this world and in this sport. I think, you know, hopefully everybody recognizes that.”
Andreeva talked about what she could have done to win. “Maybe risk more, I guess. I think at that moment I kind of just wanted to play, you know, wanted to make a rally, a longer point. So I think that if I maybe would have gone for something more risky to see what would have happened, maybe that would be the only thing that I would change.”
“I think she’s just more patient than me in a way that, you know, at some moments she makes less mistakes, and obviously she gets a lot of balls back, which I think after, I’m the one that’s trying to rush and make more mistakes than her.
“So I think something to also see and take to account for the next matches that I will play against her.”
Gauff, seeking her second US Open title, will play Elena Rybakina for a spot in the final.
“Elena is playing some great tennis,” said Gauff, “You know, congrats to her for being the new World No. 1 or will be the new World No. 1. I think that’s incredible.
“We played each other in Toronto. You know, didn’t go my way, so I think I just have to learn from that match.
“I know I’m going to have some aces hit on me and some winners hit on me, but I’m going to keep fighting and give it my all. That’s all I can do.”
