Thursday evening's women's singles semifinals brought the drama at the 2023 US Open.
Coco Gauff opened the marquee nighttime bill by beating Karolina Muchova on her sixth match point in Arthur Ashe Stadium, before Aryna Sabalenka came back from losing a 6-0 opening set to defeat Madison Keys, preventing an all-American final.
Action also raged on in the doubles, wheelchair and junior competitions on Day 11 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Let's take a trip around the grounds for an executive summary of Thursday's top stories.
Gauff shows maturity to reach first US Open final
Gauff closed out a 6-4, 7-5 win against Muchova on her sixth match point. A 40-ball rally—the longest of the tournament—brought up the opportunity that Gauff made count. The American led 5-1 in the opening set and 5-3 in the second set, but needed to hold her nerve late in each frame.
The New York crowd roared for each Gauff point and she showed her steel to power through the finish in both sets, just as Muchova was finding her form. The sixth seed showcased great variety in the victory, controlling the large majority of the match and holding a decisive edge in rallies short and long. She hit just 13 winners, but also benefitted from 36 unforced errors from Muchova.
At 19, Gauff is the youngest US Open semifinalist since Serena Williams reached the 2001 final at the same age.
It's Gauff's second major final, following her Roland Garros run last season. But this time, it feels different.
"I think I just didn't really believe that I had it in me [last sumer], especially at the time playing Iga [Swiatek], who was on a winning streak and everything," Gauff said. "But this time around, I have been focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself. Not going on social media or listening to people who believe that I can or believe that I can't.
"So I have just been really focusing on myself. I really believe that now I have the maturity and ability to do it. Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I'm really proud of how I have been handling the last few weeks."
Sabalenka's 'magic' comeback banishes SF demons
After being bageled in the opening set, Aryna Sabalenka trailed 5-3 in set two and 4-2 in set three. But after twice serving to stay in the match in the final frame, she played a near-perfect tiebreak to earn a 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5) triumph.
The WTA world No. 1 in waiting thought she had won the match after she went up 7-3 in the 10-point match tiebreak, but the celebrations began anew five points later when she turned it up to 10.
Keys was untouchable in the first set and her imperious form continued for much of the match. Not only was the American connecting on a full complement of her usual baseline blasts, she was also defending doggedly in the corners and displaying deft touch around the net.
"She's playing unbelievable, just, like, crushing everything," Sabalenka said, reflecting on her opponent's hot start. "I'm not able to do anything. I had zero control in the match. I just kept telling myself, 'OK, it's going to be like this? Somebody is just going to play their best tennis?' "
But Sabalenka began to hit her stride as the match wore on. Despite trailing for much of the closing two sets, she managed to avoid what would have been her third straight US Open semifinal defeat.
"You just have to keep trying, keep staying there and keep pushing it," she added. "Maybe you'll be able to turn around this game. Lucky me, somehow magically—I don't know how—I was able to turn around this game."
Doubles: Ram/Salisbury continue quest for three-peat
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won their second three-setter of the 2023 US Open in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Roland Garros champs Austin Krajicek and Ivan Dodig. Now on a 17-match winning streak in New York. the No. 3 seeds will bid for their third straight Flushing title on Friday against Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden.
Read our full doubles wrap below.
Wheelchair: Vintage Lapthorne earns upset win
Two-time quad singles champion and former world No. 1 Andy Lapthorne showed his pedigree with a 6-0, 6-2 win over No. 3 seed Donald Ramphadi in the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open Wheelchair Championships presented by Deloitte.
The unseeded Brit, ranked No. 9 in the world, won the new York singles crown in 2014 and 2019. He'll face No. 1 seed and defending champion Niels Vink in the semis, while No. 2 seed Sam Schroder and No. 4 seed David Wagner will duel in the other semifinal.
Read our full wheelchair wrap below.
Juniors: Two California kids reach semis
Two Americans are through to the junior singles semifinals thanks to upset wins on Day 11. Learner Tien, boys' singles finalist at the Australian Open earlier this year, came from behind to knock out second seed Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. In the girls' singles draw, Katherine Hui took out sixth seed Ena Koike, 6-0, 6-3, to reach the final four.
Read our full junior wrap below.
Shot of the Day:
This one raised the volume to the max in Ashe...
Quote of the Day:
"Well, two days back I was sitting here and I think I said something like. 'I was feeling it from the start until the end.' And today, I was not feeling it from the start until the end." — Karolina Muchova, who managed a smile as she delivered that opening line in her post-match presser
Tweet of the Day:
Pre-match preparations done right...
Photo of the Day:
Coco Gauff under the bright lights in Ashe.
