Key events
Gauff wins the second-set tie-break 9-7!
… and then 7-6 Andreeva, a second match point, when Gauff doesn’t do enough with her smash and Andreeva is able to rip a passing winner! Andreeva, the racket weighing heavy in her hand, sends down one of her slowest serves of the day at 79mph and Gauff gives it the treatment it deserves. 7-7. And now 8-7 Gauff. Set point. Gauff’s second after the one nearly half an hour ago. And Gauff’s forehand this time is flawless! And Gauff is now doing Gauff things, forcing a decider in this match even though she’s not playing at her best.
Then 5-5 and 6-5 Andreeva; the Russian has her first match point. Another lengthy, lengthy, heart-in-mouth exchange to add to the one on the eighth point … and Andreeva eventually blinks! The match point has gone and it’s 6-6 at the second change of ends …
… but just as you think Gauff is in the ascendancy, her forehand misfires, and the mini-break is surrendered for 4-3. Neither player is giving an inch on the next point – which turns into a 39-SHOT FOREHAND FACE-OFF … before Gauff decides she’s had enough and conjures up a perfect drop shot!!! 5-3 … but the next point is over in a fraction of that time and it goes Andreeva’s way for 5-4 …
A drive volley backed up by a smash gets Andreeva 2-1 ahead on serve … and Gauff gets to 3-2 when she’s a wall at the net on the fifth point, showing tremendous reflexes! The crowd liked that, as does Gauff, who’s fist-pumping and C’MONING. And buoyed by that, Gauff grabs the first mini-break, and they change ends at 4-2 …
Second set: Andreeva 6-2, 6-6 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
So Andreeva, who would be serving for the match if she’d put away that short ball, is now serving to stay in the set. At 15-all, the net gods rule in Gauff’s favour as the ball clips and tape and flies over … Andreeva is still able to get the ball back … but Gauff assumes control in the point and Andreeva is forced into making the error. 15-30. Andreeva recovers to 40-30 … and secures the game when Gauff’s forehand – which can sometimes be a bit brittle – malfunctions. It’s tie-break time!
Second set: Andreeva* 6-2, 5-6 Gauff (*denotes next server)
The biggest roar of the set as Gauff finishes off a lung-busting exchange with a deft drop shot and rasping winner for 15-all. Perhaps that’ll loosen Gauff up to play some free-flowing tennis. But quickly it’s 30-40 as Gauff’s wild forehand is long and wide. If Andreeva wins this break point she’ll be serving for the match … but nothing about this set has been remotely straightforward for either player and Andreeva, with a simple short ball to bury, clunks it into the net! Wow. This is tense, tight stuff. Deuce. Advantage Gauff. And Gauff wins a game that she really shouldn’t have.
Second set: Andreeva 6-2, 5-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Oooohs and aaaaaahs as Gauff is dragged right and left and right and left and right and left and right and left some more at 30-15. Andreeva emerges from the exchange victorious. And from there she holds, stopping the run of four games against the server. For the first time since 2-2, Andreeva hauls herself level.
Andreeva breaks: Andreeva* 6-2, 4-5 Gauff (*denotes next server)
It’s 30-all. Will it become set point or break point? Set point, when Gauff rams down an ace. But Andreeva hits deep to Gauff’s backhand and Gauff isn’t getting that back into play. And set point turns into break point when Gauff coughs up a double fault! Gauff’s forehand flops into the net and it’s a fourth successive break. This is a tough watch, and it hasn’t matched the quality of the first five quarter-finals, but it’s compelling in its own way.
Gauff breaks: Andreeva 6-2, 3-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
The longest rally of the match, at 22 shots, is won by Gauff for 15-all. And from there Andreeva suddenly waves the white flag, with back-to-back double faults and a messy volley into the net! Gauff did little to win that game – well apart from that protracted rally – but she’ll now serve for a set that is getting curious and curiouser!
Andreeva breaks: Andreeva* 6-2, 3-4 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Andreeva accelerates to Gauff’s drop shot and buries a winner for 30-all. Gauff snuffs out the danger with a one-two punch, but can’t wrap up the game when she flings a forehand into the tramlines. There’s a strange lack of rhythm in this match, and the crowd aren’t quite feeling it either, but Andreeva peels off a perfect winner to get herself a break point … and Gauff repels it by racing forward to punch away a volley. These two are such tremendous athletes, two of the finest in the women’s game. Another Andreeva break point comes and goes, and here’s a third … and Gauff sends a timid forehand wide. Gauff was one point from a 5-2 lead – but now they’re back on serve. A disappointing let-down. But we know that Gauff, ever the competitor, will not become dispirited.
Gauff breaks: Andreeva 6-2, 2-4 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
The errors on Andreeva’s side of the net are increasing, and Gauff has 30-all on the Russian’s serve for the second successive game. Gauff can’t turn that into a break point, when Andreeva edges to 40-30, but Gauff – the ultimate competitor in the women’s game, who can grind out results and find a way to win whatever her predicament – is undeterred and gets to deuce and then advantage, when Andreeva biffs a backhand long! So here is a break point. And Andreeva’s backhand breaks down again! Gauff has her first break of the match.
Second set: Andreeva* 6-2, 2-3 Gauff (*denotes next server)
What’s surprised me so far is that I thought Andreeva might struggle emotionally with most of the 24,000-strong crowd against her and rooting for Gauff, but Gauff just hasn’t given the home fans enough to cheer about so far. But Gauff does hold again, to 15 when Andreeva whacks into the tramlines, and the American nudges ahead in this second set once more. There’s a feeling that Gauff is starting to generate a bit of momentum.
Second set: Andreeva 6-2, 2-2 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
As Niall mentioned, Gauff has won all five of her previous matches against Andreeva, though she said before this quarter-final that the head-to-head didn’t really reflect how little there is between them, especially now that Andreeva is a grand slam champion, and the play so far is proving that. At 15-all on Andreeva’s serve, Gauff’s loopy forehand drops just in, after the longest rally of the match at 14 shots. Andreeva temporarily knocks Gauff off course with a body serve to get back to 30-all, Gauff grabs the next point for 30-40, but can’t convert the break point. And Andreeva doesn’t give Gauff another chance as she serves out from deuce.
Second set: *Andreeva 6-2, 1-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Gauff is in a tough spot, dealing with her own issues, a very solid opponent, and a crowd sat in anxious silence. There are groans after a second double fault brings up deuce – and another one means break point Andreeva.
Gauff rescues it with a serve out wide and charge in, with Andreeva netting the return. Then a 120mph ace which gets the crowd involved, and then she wins a net battle to hold. Is she back in this? Join Katy Murrells to see what happens next …
Second set: Andreeva 6-2, 1-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Gauff leads the head-to-head against Andreeva 5-0, but she looks second-best out here, with two more loose forehands and two mistimed backhands allowing Andreeva to hold without doing too much.
Second set: *Andreeva 6-2, 0-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Coco Gauff needs to start this set well, or this match could slip away fast. There’s another double fault here, but also an impressive overhead smash at 15-30 down. Another double, another smashed winner to rescue deuce – and she digs out the hold in gritty fashion.
Mirra Andreeva wins the first set 6-2!
Andreeva opens with an ace, then Gauff tries to attack her second serve but only finds the net. The American prevails in the next rally, solid defence drawing an error – and Andreeva double-faults! A bit of pressure, but Gauff can’t keep her next return in play. Set point, secured with a big serve down the line.
First set: *Andreeva 5-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)
At 30-15 up, Gauff serves up another dispiriting double fault – but Andreeva can’t quite keep her return in from a serve out wide. The next serve doesn’t come back, either. Still, Andreeva will have two chances to serve out the first set.
First set: Andreeva 5-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Andreeva holds in the blink of an eye to continue her domination of this first set. She’s never reached the quarter-finals here before, but looks much more comfortable than Gauff, the 2023 champion.
First set: *Andreeva 4-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Coco Gauff gets on the board with a hold to 15, and at least has a foothold after producing 10 unforced errors to Andreeva’s two so far.
First set: Andreeva 4-0 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
At 30-15, Gauff moves forward at the wrong moment and is beaten by a dipping, cross-court winner. Andreeva backs that up with an ace, and she’s in total control of this opening set.
First set: *Andreeva 3-0 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Coco Gauff’s slow start continues, as she slips from 30-0 up thanks to two double faults – before another forehand error allows Andreeva to move a double-break ahead.
First set: Andreeva 2-0 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
The No 5 seed makes it seven points without reply, and while Gauff offers some resistance by claiming the next two points, Andreeva backs up the break as Gauff sends a forehand into the net.
First set: *Andreeva 1-0 Gauff (*denotes next server)
A blistering start from Mirra Andreeva, rattling off four straight points to break the Gauff serve to love!
Andreeva and Gauff are out on court, warming up for their semi-final. Who will complete the final four?
Rybakina is also heading to the semi-finals, where she’ll face either Mirra Andreeva or Coco Gauff. They’re up next, so stay tuned.
So, Elena Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka’s run at the top of the rankings at 99 weeks. She also breaks the Swiatek-Sabalenka duopoly that has lasted since April 2022, when Ashleigh Barty retired as world No 1. There are only two other active players who have held the women’s No 1 ranking – Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova.
Elena Rybakina: “It’s tough to put into words, it was a really tough match, maybe not our best level but happy to make it through.” She adds that the bright sun and shadows were bothering her in the first set. “I didn’t start well, I’ve played all my matches at night so I had to adjust, and I was thinking very negative. I’m super happy.”
On being world No 1: “It’s just a number right now – my goal is to win this tournament and I’m in the semi-finals. [Being world No 1] is an amazing achievement for me but I’m focusing on my next game, relaxing and trying to recover tomorrow.”
Elena Rybakina beats Zheng Qinwen to become world No 1
Rybakina blasts through the first two points, but there is a twitch at 30-0 as she misfires into the net. A huge serve out wide proves unreturnable, though. Rybakina has two match points – and she claims victory, and the world No 1 ranking, when Zheng nets!
Final score: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 4-6 Rybakina.
Rybakina breaks! Third set: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 4-5 Rybakina* (*denotes next server)
Having dug herself out of that hole, Zheng hits a wild effort out of court – and then a double fault as she is forced to be aggressive on second serve. It’s a real shame if Zheng goes out like that, but Rybakina will have new balls to serve this out.
Third set: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 4-4 Rybakina* (*denotes next server)
Now it’s Zheng’s turn to wobble, Rybakina’s vicious returns claiming the first two points – and she has three break points when Zheng nets. But Zheng saves all three, the last with a forehand winner down the line! Deuce …
Third set: *Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 4-4 Rybakina (*denotes next server)
If Zheng can break here, she would get the opportunity to serve out in the next game – and she earns a break point with a looping, two-handed backhand winner down the line! Zheng gets a look at a similar shot with Rybakina up at the net – but it lands inches long. From deuce, Rybakina powers through and we’re level again.
Third set: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 4-3 Rybakina* (*denotes next server)
An easier hold for Zheng here, the first serve firing with more accuracy. She holds to 15 when Rybakina can’t keep a cross-court effort in bounds.
Third set: *Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 3-3 Rybakina (*denotes next server)
Rybakina rattles through another quick hold to keep the pressure on Zheng; the No 2 seed is getting through her service games in this set at an average of two minutes.
Third set: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 3-2 Rybakina* (*denotes next server)
At 30-all, Zheng goes all-in with a ripping forehand that clips the baseline, but Rybakina hits back with a one-two punch, and Zheng offers up a break point as an overcooked shot drifts long. Rybakina gets her chance but misses the outside line with a floaty forehand. Zheng carves out the hold with a bit of serve-and-volley; she’s under more pressure on serve but is holding on.
Third set: *Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 2-2 Rybakina (*denotes next server)
Rybakina is back to her calm, controlled default mode and rolls through this service hold with little fuss.
There are six women left in the US Open draw, and they are ranked world Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 … and 121. But Zheng is, of course, much better than her injury-affected ranking suggests. Rybakina will become the new world No 1 if she wins this match but if she loses, and Gauff beats Andreeva, she’ll be in the strange position of hoping Zheng goes all the way in New York, in order to keep Sabalenka, Pegula or Gauff from taking top spot.
Third set: Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 2-1 Rybakina* (*denotes next server)
Rybakina punishes a slightly mishit Zheng backhand with a ruthless winner down the line, but Zheng finds enough first-serve power to hold from 30-all.
Third set: *Zheng 6-3, 1-6, 1-1 Rybakina (*denotes next server)
An untimely double-fault at 30-0 up is the only blemish on Rybakina’s serve, as she holds with an ace.
