Coco Gauff topples rival to earn third-round berth…
Coco Gauff had misplaced her last two matches against Paula Badosa before their assembly inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night time in the second spherical of the U.S. Open, most not too long ago on grass in June at the Berlin Tennis Open.
Despite having misplaced 5 of their eight matches, the 22-year-old American was still the overwhelming favourite.
Narrowly evading a deciding third set, Gauff in the end prevailed in a tight 6-4, 7-6 (5) win — her eighth straight victory to make it 16 units in a row — to advance to the third spherical in Flushing for a fifth straight yr.
Throwing both her fists up in the air, Gauff set free an emphatic scream to have fun after the win.
“I think it’s good to be battle tested,” said Gauff, who advances to face Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on Saturday. “When I won here in 2023, I think I went three sets what felt like every match. … I think, for me, it’s a good confidence booster knowing that I can get through these matches. Obviously, I would prefer maybe not to play someone who I’ve lost to so many times in the second round, but I think today was a big confidence booster, and I think getting through in straight sets, too, makes a big difference.”
Serving for the match twice before prevailing in the second-set tiebreak, Gauff admitted Badosa was not somebody she wished to see so early in her draw. The 28-year-old Badosa also has been ranked as high as world No. 2, which Gauff identified during her on-court interview.
Coco Gauff celebrates after her hard-fought, second-round win at the U.S. Open over Paula Badosa on Sept. 3, 2026 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Badosa was enjoying for a third consecutive day after she was compelled to end her first-round match Wednesday because of rain earlier this week, but she still pushed Gauff like standard.
Gauff also said she had some nerves during the match.
That a lot was evident early on in the first set, as the world No. 4 struggled to maintain serve through the first few video games. She had to come back from down 40-15 in her first service recreation to keep tempo with Barbosa.
By the sixth recreation, however, Gauff was placing the ball proper where she wished it.
Both gamers traded off breaks in the second set before heading to a aggressive tiebreak, which noticed Badosa keep a close distance. She was ready to knot the rating at 3-3, but Gauff got here through for the victory.
Gauff’s serve, which is much-improved and continues to be a scorching matter, reached 121 mph Thursday night time.
Asked if she thinks she would have the opportunity to hit 130 mph, Gauff couldn’t say for sure.
“I don’t know if I can or not. That’s a good question,” she said. “We’ll see at the end of my career if I can. Maybe if I’m up, like really up in a match, I might go for it. Sometimes, when I am up, I try to go for it. But I find when I don’t go for it, that’s when the speed is higher so. I don’t know, you have to just catch me on a real relaxed day.”
Coco Gauff rips a backhand during her second-round win at the U.S. Open. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Gauff is one of 4 girls competing in the U.S. Open who might be world No. 1 by the event’s end. Fellow American Jessica Pegula beforehand said she dreamed of being No. 1 in the world, slightly than profitable a Grand Slam.
Asked how she considered the 2, Gauff said it was the other for her.
“I’ve never thought about being number one,” she said. “I feel just growing up watching Serena [Williams] play. … It was very clear she was centered on the Slam. So I feel growing up watching her play, I just always had that mentality. Yes, it could be cool to be primary, but it’s not one thing that I’ve thought about, to be trustworthy.
“I definitely care, but I don’t think it’s something I’ll be nervous about. Honestly, if it happens, great. If not, no. I’m just more focused on winning Slams.”
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