A comeback that could mean a title

Coco Gauff has achieved one of those victories that could be worth a title. The American tennis player pulled off a stunning comeback against Mirra Andreeva to reach the semifinals of the US Open with a score of 2-6, 7-6(8), and 6-2 after 2 hours and 18 minutes of battle in which she saved two match points. The local idol is more alive than ever and will face Elena Rybakina for a spot in the semifinals.

After winning the WTA Cincinnati, Coco had established herself as the main favorite for the title at the US Open. However, today two factors came together at the start of the match: an exquisite Andreeva and a day to forget on serve. Gauff was a bundle of nerves, but she held on to the court and her fans to stay in contention in a tournament that she already won in 2023. Furthermore, this deepens Mirra's losing streak against the American player, as she has not been able to win any of the 6 encounters they have had. This particular one will hurt much more than any other.

Andreeva dominates Gauff, losing only 6 points on serve

The first set showcased a stellar Andreeva, flawless, dismantling the style of a Gauff who started off trailing behind the good performance of the young Russian player. In fact, within a few minutes, Mirra was up 4-0 on the scoreboard, a result that would be a heavy burden for the American’s interests, whose forehand was doing no damage to Conchita Martínez's pupil.

It is true that from that moment on the match became more even, and the score stabilized, but it was already too late for Gauff's reaction. In fact, Mirra lost just 6 points on her serve, a testament that she was determined to make this the occasion she surpassed Coco after five failed encounters. No matter how much the crowd was against her and the previous statistics as well, her match was that of a serious title contender.

Gauff saves two match points

The second set seemed to start down the same path, with a break point in favor of Mirra, but the local idol saved the situation with two net volleys that allowed her to breathe in a critical situation. Still, the American was still not causing any damage on return, also committing too many double faults and showing herself to be very fragile on serve. In fact, at 1-1, she went from 40-15 to advantage for Mirra after a glaring error and two double faults. However, she redeemed herself again to come back in the game and rally the crowd.

In the next game, it was Gauff who put pressure on Mirra and had a break point, but Mirra was brave with a cross-court forehand that gave her wings. However, how many times can the pitcher go to the well before it breaks, and Coco found her reward at 3-2, starting a never-ending break war. Andreeva quickly broke back, but the American countered again and served to win the set, even having a chance to do so. At that moment, she faltered more than she should have and lost her serve again, and at 5-5, Andreeva had a break point that would have been a heavy burden for Gauff. 

The young local idol was a bundle of nerves, but she managed to regain her composure, and the set was decided in a frantic tie-break with everything at stake. Every point was a matter of life and death, and in that dynamic, both produced some of the best points of the tournament. No one was giving anything away until Gauff became overly nervous at 5-5 and sliced a forehand she should have hit. With a match point for the Russian, though, she was brave enough to come to the net and avoid the final blow. However, an epic defense from Andreeva gave her her first match point on serve, but Coco returned like an angel and managed two consecutive points to get herself a set point, winning the tie-break in an epic fashion.

Gauff completes the epic

This was a blow to Mirra's morale, as right at the start of the second set she lost serve to a Gauff who was increasingly clear on her strategy. While Andreeva constantly targeted the American's forehand, Coco knew she had the physical factor in her favor, and she had also won the mental battle. In fact, in the third set, there was no match at all, as the difference was overwhelming at all times.

With another break, Gauff sealed a definitive 6-2 on the scoreboard and secured her place in the semifinals with a victory that feels glorious and could very well be worth a title. Victories like these are remembered at the end of tournaments, as despite not shining, Coco has pulled off a match she was practically losing and that fills her with confidence heading into a closely matched duel against Rybakina, who today secured leaving New York as the world number 1.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Una remontada que puede valer un título