Photo Source: TC
Coco Gauff’s star has faded ever so slightly in 2025, while Mirra Andreeva’s has only grown. Would the 21-year-old American give up another valuable sliver of the limelight to the 18-year-old in Madrid on Wednesday?
Gauff said firmly: NO!
The American saved a pair of set points in a rollercoaster opening set and reeled off nine of the final ten games as she secured a 7-5, 6-1 victory to book her maiden Madrid semifinal.
It’s a massive win for Gauff, who had not reached a semifinal all season, while Andreeva, the current darling of the WTA, had scarfed up titles in Indian Wells and Dubai.
Gauff improves to 3-0 against Andreeva with the win – she’ll face Iga Swiatek in the semifinals at the Caja Majica.
How did Gauff rate her performance on a scale of one to ten?
“A nine,” she said. “I think I played really well today, I was able to stay composed when I was facing those set points, really happy with how I played today.”
Gauff, who was bageled in her first set of the tournament by Dayana Yastremska, has now won eight consecutive sets in Madrid.
She’ll need to keep up the strong play, as her next opponent is the defending champion, Iga Swiatek. The Pole took out Madison Keys, 0-6 6-3 6-2, earlier on Wednesday.
Both Swiatek and Gauff have been dealt first-round bagels in this tournament, but neither let it bother them too much.
“I had that tough match in the first round,” Gauff said. “And even though it was tough it helped me keep doing better.”
Gauff needed to be better against Andreeva in the opening set, as the Russian broke her at love to lead 5-4. That was the American’s cue to flip the script, and she did just that.
Gauff won the next eight games and didn’t blink until Andreev finally held service to avoid the bagel in the sixth game of set two.
She clinched the victory in 92 minutes, in the next game.
Elina Svitolina also advanced on Wednesday, toppling Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1.