“I literally said my prayer”: Coco Gauff on waking up to the Shelton-Alcaraz chaos after skipping US Open epic
WTAThursday, 10 September 2026 at 08:30
Coco Gauff was asleep while Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz were producing one of the wildest matches of the 2026 US Open. The defending champion deliberately avoided watching the quarter-final, knowing that staying up for such a match could affect her preparation for her own clash with Mirra Andreeva.
She woke up to find out that Shelton had beaten Alcaraz in a match that finished at 3:33 a.m. Gauff then went looking for the highlights on Threads, having missed the drama while preparing for her own quarter-final.
Gauff had her own comeback to complete later that day. The American recovered from a set down against Andreeva, saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak and won 2-6, 7-6(9-7), 6-2 to reach the US Open semi-finals for the second time.
The victory was not without problems, particularly on serve. Gauff hit 12 double faults, but in her post-match press conference she explained why she viewed the number differently from how she might have done a year ago.
Gauff missed the Shelton-Alcaraz thriller
Gauff's decision not to watch Shelton and Alcaraz was deliberate. She knew that following such a dramatic match could make it difficult to sleep while she was still competing in the tournament. “No, I didn't see Ben and Carlos. I went to sleep after Jess's match, but I did wake up and saw the score.”
The American said she would have stayed up had she already been eliminated, but protecting her own preparation took priority. “I mean, if I was out of the tournament, I probably would have tried to stay up the whole time for sure," she added. "But because I'm in the tournament, I didn't even want to watch the match because I knew once I started, it would be hard to go to sleep."
"There have been sometimes matches and I have to go to sleep in the middle of them. And it's kind of hard for me to fall asleep because I'm thinking about what's going to happen.”
Still, she wanted to know what had happened as soon as she woke up. “But literally the first thing I did this morning, I literally said my prayer really quick and then I, like, checked the score and I was so happy."
"And then I was on Threads like trying to find all the highlights and everything. And it was just an insane match and an insane night for American tennis. And I'm really happy for Ben and Francis.”
Shelton's win set up an all-American men's semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, while Gauff also credited Tiafoe with inspiring her own comeback against Andreeva.
“ I think Frances was fighting. I was watching the end of that set and looked like he was down and out. And sometimes you just need a chance," she stated. "And I think I got my chances today. And I was just really determined to not lose that second set because I felt like I worked so hard to give myself opportunities and lost them and honestly didn't know how the third set would go.”
Gauff puts 12 double faults into perspective
Gauff's serving problems were stark against Andreeva, with 12 double faults during the three-set battle. Yet the American believes the bigger picture is considerably more positive.
“I see how much I've improved in a year. So I'm like, OK, if I keep putting in the work and keep refining things, I think my serve has definitely gotten better, even though today didn't show up quite well, but it's OK. It'll show up tomorrow.”
Her most striking assessment came when comparing the performance with where she was at last year's US Open. “I mean, the fact that also, speaking like this, is probably my worst serving match at 12 doubles in the three set, that I mean, I probably would take that last year like so much. So I think it's just perspective and everything.”
That change in perspective has extended beyond her serve. Gauff said she is now better able to view her career over a longer period rather than becoming consumed by individual results.
“Sometimes you're just so focused on the now, now, now because you want it now. And obviously you want to take advantage of your opportunities when you have them. But, I mean, at the grand scheme of things, definitely sitting here in a different mindset and perspective than I was last year.”
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The comeback also continued a strong US Open run for Gauff, who is now through to another semi-final in New York. Her next opponent will be Elena Rybakina, who defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last four and secure the world No. 1 ranking.
For Gauff, the challenge now is to build on a victory that was anything but perfect, while maintaining the perspective she says has changed over the past year.
“I think it's just perspective and everything. And so, yeah, I think hopefully I'll be here healthy next year and hopefully I'm sitting here next year as an improved player. Obviously, I want to continue to keep my strides going here and hopefully make it to the end. But just focusing on the moment and I'm trying to improve match by match.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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