Coco Gauff, the fourth seed and defending 2023 U.S. Open champion, made a dramatic comeback to reach the 2026 U.S. Open semifinals. She saved two match points in a grueling quarterfinal match against 19-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, winning 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This victory continues the strong showing by Americans, making four U.S. women into the semifinal round. Gauff will face second seed Elena Rybakina next, who recently secured the world No. 1 ranking after defeating Qinwen Zheng in a tough three-set match.

Elena Rybakina’s rise to the top spot in women’s tennis marks a significant milestone. The reigning Australian Open champion clinched the No. 1 ranking after a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win at the U.S. Open, a position she coveted while maintaining a focused mindset on winning each match. This is the first time since 1975 that the top four women’s seeds—Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Gauff, and Rybakina—have all advanced to the semifinals, highlighting the high level of competition at this year’s tournament.

On the men’s side, the U.S. Open has assured an American finalist for the first time in over two decades, with notable players Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton set to play in an all-American semifinal. No American man has won a major since Andy Roddick claimed the U.S. Open in 2003. Roddick’s continued presence at the tournament adds a nostalgic layer to this year’s competition as American men chase a historic breakthrough.

Gauff’s quarterfinal match was marked by an initially shaky performance, as she made 40 unforced errors in the first two sets, but improved dramatically to only two errors in the final set to secure her win. Reflecting on her comeback, Gauff credited the support of the crowd and inspiration from fellow American Tiafoe’s comeback the previous day. The stage is set for a compelling semifinal showdown between Gauff and the new world No. 1 Rybakina, with both players eager to claim the prestigious U.S. Open title.