Coco Gauff Advances To US Open Fourth Round With Gritty Comeback Win.
Defending champion Coco Gauff showcased her resilience and determination by battling back from a set down to defeat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, securing her spot in the fourth round of the US Open. The American third seed triumphed in a challenging 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 encounter, keeping her hopes alive to become the first woman to defend the title since Serena Williams in 2014.
“This win means a lot,” Gauff expressed after the match. “I knew today was going to be a tough match. Every time I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I knew I had to bring my best tennis.”
Gauff will next face fellow American Emma Navarro, who advanced with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. The upcoming match will be a rematch of their fourth-round clash at Wimbledon earlier this year, where Navarro shocked Gauff on Centre Court.
Reflecting on that Wimbledon match, Gauff said, “I feel like that match at Wimbledon, I think I mentally just literally collapsed on the court. I was very frustrated, and she played well. I have to expect her to play her best tennis, and I just need to know that I need to bring it and mentally be there from the beginning to the end.”
In other news, last year’s US Open runner-up, Aryna Sabalenka, also staged a comeback, overcoming a set deficit to defeat Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a match that concluded in the early hours of the morning in New York.
The stage is now set for an exciting round of matches as the competition intensifies at Flushing Meadows.