Coco Gauff produced a remarkable comeback at the US Open on Wednesday, saving two match points before defeating Mirra Andreeva.

The fourth-ranked American, who is 22 and already a two-time Grand Slam champion, recovered from a difficult opening set and a tense second-set tie-break to keep her title hopes alive at Flushing Meadows.

Gauff will face Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the last four on Thursday after the former Wimbledon champion defeated Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Rybakina’s victory also guarantees that she will rise to world number one in next week’s rankings.

“Elena is the new world number one,” Gauff said after her victory. “It’s going to be a tough match. These are the moments you live for.”

The semi-final will be a rematch of their recent encounter in Canada, where Rybakina defeated Gauff last month. Gauff had previously won their only other meeting, also in Canada, in 2022, leaving their head-to-head record level at 1-1.

Gauff entered the quarter-final with a perfect 5-0 record against Andreeva, including a victory over the Russian on her way to winning the 2023 US Open title and another win in the quarter-finals in Rome earlier this year.

But Andreeva, the fifth-ranked 18-year-old, immediately put that record under pressure.

The French Open champion dominated the opening set, capitalising on errors from Gauff to take it 6-2.

Gauff eventually found her rhythm in the second set, although neither player was able to maintain control of her service games.

She broke for a 4-2 lead when Andreeva sent a backhand long, but the Russian responded immediately, breaking back in the seventh game after Gauff pushed a forehand wide.

Another break followed in the eighth game when Andreeva sent a forehand volley into the net, giving Gauff the opportunity to serve for the set.

But Gauff could not close it out.

She sent another forehand into the net, handing Andreeva her fourth consecutive break and forcing the set into a deciding tie-break.

The pressure intensified as the tie-break went deep into the deciding points.

Andreeva earned two match points and appeared on the verge of completing one of the biggest wins of her young career.

Gauff, however, refused to surrender.

She saved both match points after Andreeva sent forehands wide and long before taking the final two points of the tie-break.

Andreeva then sent another forehand long before finding the net with another forehand, allowing Gauff to claim the set 9-7 and force a decider.

“I just had to reset. I came out not feeling the ball, giving her too many free points,” Gauff said.

In the third set, the momentum had completely shifted.

Gauff broke for a 2-1 advantage and continued to apply pressure on Andreeva, who struggled to reproduce the level she had shown earlier in the match.

Another break gave Gauff a 5-2 lead after Andreeva sent a forehand into the net.

Gauff then held serve to complete the comeback and secure her place in the semi-finals.

Reflecting on the battle, Gauff said she was determined to leave everything on the court.

“I was just trying to leave the court without regrets,” she said.

Gauff’s victory keeps alive her bid for another US Open title, but standing between her and a place in the final is a Rybakina who is entering the match as the newly crowned world number one.

The other semi-final will feature defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus against third-ranked American Jessica Pegula.

With Gauff and Rybakina both carrying momentum into the last four, Thursday’s clash promises another major test for the American as she continues her pursuit of another Grand Slam crown.