Coco Gauff’s Determined Victory
Last year’s US Open champion, Coco Gauff, is back, and she’s not playing around! The 19-year-old tennis sensation came from behind to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in a nail-biting match, finishing with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. With this win, Gauff secured her spot in the fourth round of the 2024 tournament, proving once again why she’s the reigning queen of the court.
Gauff has her sights set on becoming the first woman to defend her title since Serena Williams did it back in 2014. “This win means a lot,” Gauff said, her passion evident. “I knew today was going to be a tough match. Every time I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I had to bring my best tennis.” And did she ever!
Next Up: Emma Navarro
Next on Gauff’s journey is fellow American Emma Navarro, who just fought her way past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. These two had a showdown at Wimbledon earlier this year, where Navarro pulled off a shocking upset on Center Court. Gauff knows she’s in for a challenge: “I have to expect her to play her best tennis,” she said. “I just need to know that I’m bringing it and being mentally present from start to finish.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s Late-Night Drama
In other exciting news, last year’s runner-up, Aryna Sabalenka, also had to dig deep, rallying from a set down to beat Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. This match wrapped up at 1:49 AM local time in New York, which is just wild! Thanking the crowd for sticking around, Sabalenka joked, “Thank you all for staying that late, for real, you’re the best. I hope you’re going to get a good sleep.”
Gauff’s Match Highlights
The match had its tense moments—Svitolina silenced the crowd when she snagged the first set by breaking for a 5-3 lead. But Gauff quickly turned the tide, showcasing an incredible cross-court forehand to convert her break point in the second set. With the crowd rallying behind her, Gauff broke Svitolina twice to surge ahead 4-1 in the deciding set. Despite facing three missed match points, Gauff finished strong, decisively breaking Svitolina and celebrating with her fans!
Other Notable Matches
Elsewhere in the tournament, Paula Badosa saved a match point to defeat Elena-Gabriela Ruse, while Zheng Qinwen cruised past Jule Niemeier, adding to the fierce competition at this year’s Open.
As the tournament heats up, the stakes only get higher. With fierce competitors like Gauff, Sabalenka, and Badosa in the mix, the energy in New York is electric!
Don’t miss all the action as these incredible women continue their quest for glory at the US Open!
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Yours truly, Mia