Two match points down, Gauff still found a way past Andreeva

For Coco Gauff, the difference between an early exit and a remarkable comeback came down to surviving the next point. Twice. The American saved two match points against Mirra Andreeva before winning their US Open quarterfinal 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

The match took place on September 9 in New York, with reports reaching audiences in India on September 10. The WTA's official account recorded a contest lasting two hours and 19 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A rough opening, then a reset

Andreeva took control early. Associated Press reporting said she won the first seven points and completed the opening set in 26 minutes. Gauff had little room to pretend the start had gone well.

After that first set, Gauff said she thought about fellow American Frances Tiafoe's comeback in his own quarterfinal. His example did not win any points for her, but it gave her a reason to keep working when the score looked ugly.

The second set became the deciding argument. Andreeva had two chances to finish the match during the tiebreak. Gauff escaped both, took the breaker 9-7 and forced a third set. The situation changed from almost over to completely open.

Why those two points mattered so much

A match point is exactly what it sounds like: if the player holding it wins that point, the contest ends. Saving one does not award a bonus game or erase the earlier mistakes. It simply keeps the match alive.

That is why the comeback was more than a dramatic scoreline. Gauff first had to survive the immediate danger, then still had an entire set to win. She took that final set 6-2, completing a recovery that had looked unlikely during the opening exchanges.

AFP's report identified Andreeva as the reigning French Open champion. This was a win over a player with a major title of her own, not an opponent who could be expected to fade just because the crowd wanted a comeback.

The result earned Gauff her second US Open semifinal appearance, following her title run in 2023, according to the WTA. It also gave the tournament another example of how little a comfortable first set can guarantee.

There is a reason these matches stay with people who do not follow tennis every week. The challenge is easy to recognise: a bad start, a narrow escape and the effort of starting again. No complicated rulebook is needed to understand that pressure.

Gauff's quarterfinal was not flawless tennis from beginning to end. It was a reminder that the player who handles the worst moments best can still be the one celebrating the last point.