Coco Gauff Advances in US Open
Coco Gauff demonstrated impressive form on Saturday as she secured a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory over Magdalene Frech, marking her advancement into the second week of the US Open for the fourth year in a row. At 21 years old, Gauff has now achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the round of 16 in a Grand Slam tournament for the 16th time, a milestone that sets her apart from notable American tennis legends like Serena Williams, Chris Evert, and Mary Joe Fernandez, who all reached this stage multiple times before their 22nd birthday during the Open era.
Reflections on Performance
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff expressed satisfaction, stating,
“Overall I’m really happy with how I played and to be through to the next round.”
She noted the challenges of transitioning from night matches to a daytime game and mentioned the difficulty posed by the court’s shade, which at times affected her ability to gauge the ball’s movement.
The match comes just two days after a challenging outing against Donna Vekic, where Gauff faced difficulties including seven double faults and dropping four out of six service games in the opening set. However, she bounced back admirably against Frech, committing only four double faults and winning seven out of eight service games, while successfully converting 5 out of 11 break points. Notably, Gauff launched a strong 76% of her first serves, illustrating her improved rhythm and confidence on the court.
Emotional Challenges and Future Matches
Gauff reflected on the emotional challenges she faced earlier in the tournament, acknowledging that those experiences helped her to push forward.
“I was putting so much pressure on myself, but I’m really out here just trying to enjoy it and not focus so much on results, but the process,”
she remarked, emphasizing her renewed approach to the game as she aims to have fun on the court.
Looking ahead, Gauff will compete against either Naomi Osaka or Daria Kasatkina in the next round. In her WTA history, she holds a record of 3 wins to 2 losses against Osaka (with a 1-1 record at majors) and has yet to secure a victory over Kasatkina, who she has faced three times before. This upcoming match promises to add another exciting chapter to Gauff’s young career.
