The match was defined by Gauff’s ability to withstand immense pressure during the second set. Facing two match points in the tiebreaker, the 2023 champion managed to turn the tide, shifting the momentum in her favor before dominating the deciding set. This victory marks Gauff’s 90th win at a major tournament, placing her in elite company alongside American tennis legends Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Mary Joe Fernandez for the most major wins by an American woman before turning 23 in the Open era.
A Test of Character on Arthur Ashe
The contest began in favor of Andreeva, the French Open champion, who dominated the opening exchanges. Andreeva claimed the first seven points of the match and wrapped up the opening set in just 26 minutes. However, Gauff’s capacity to regroup under adversity proved decisive, mirroring the grit she displayed during her championship run last year.
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Gauff noted that the core objective throughout the match was simply to keep fighting. Her performance contributed to a notable trend at the 2026 US Open, which has now seen six quarterfinal matches—across both men’s and women’s draws—go to a deciding set. This statistic ties the tournament with the 1980 Australian Open, the 2005 US Open, and 2022 Wimbledon for the most such occurrences in the Open era.
Semifinal Showdown Awaits
With her place in the final four secured, Gauff is set to face No. 2 seed
The semifinal lineup is particularly significant, as it marks only the second time in the Open era that all four top seeds have reached the final four at the US Open. The only previous instance occurred in 1975, when Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, and Evonne Goolagong occupied the top four spots. The other semifinal match will feature top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka against No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, scheduled for Thursday.
