Huge drama at Tennis US Open - Gauff survives two match-points to claim semi-final spot

USA's Cori "Coco" Gauff survived the tennis US Open quarter-finals by the skin of her teeth to reach the semi-finals. The American star was forced to endure match point twice against Mirra Andreeva to complete an almost impossible comeback victory.

Currently fourth in the world rankings, Gauff finally claimed her semi-final spot following a 2-1 victory (2–6, 7–6 (9–7), 6–2).

The match began in troubling fashion for Gauff. Andreeva managed to claim the first set in just 26 minutes, and the American managed to claim just five points from the opening 21.

Gauff's troubles seemed to have not deserted her in the second set. She managed to claim 4-2 and 5-3 leads thanks to breaking Andreeva's serve, but both timesher opponent achieved the same feat back.

The set went to a tie-break, which began with a Gauff double fault. Eventually Andreeva was in firm control with two match points, but the American survived both in front of her home crowd, eventually tying the sets thanks to a 9-7 win in the tie-break.

The match was particularly poignant seeing how much trouble Gauff seemed to be in at times. She hit 22 winners in the match, but this was over-shadowed by 42 unforced errors, 12 of which were double faults.

- At the end of the first set I thought of Frances, and how she managed to make a comeback yesterday. We all want to succeed in front of this crowd. I just tried to leave the field without any regrets, Gauff said after the match talking about her fellow team USA player Frances Tiafoe's comeback victory over Alex Michelsen yesterday.

Gauff took the final set convincingly 6-2, earning a spot in the top four of the US Open for the first time since 2023, when she celebrated victory here.

Her semi-final opponent will be Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who defeated Zhen Qinwen 2-1 (3–6, 6–1, 6–4) in their quarter-final bout.

That victory also secured Rybakina a rise to be the world's number one female tennis player for the first time in her career.



Source: BBC