Gauff survives a tense test at the U.S. Open, overcoming nerves and a public serve makeover to reach the third round
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — In a dramatic Day 6 scene at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Coco Gauff faced down a nerve-wracking moment and a faltering serve as she edged Donna Vekić in a second-round duel that kept the crowd on edge for much of the night.
With music blasting around a full-house arena of about 24,000 spectators, Gauff practiced her serve while Vekić, the 2021 Olympic finalist, received attention on her right elbow. Gauff, world No. 3, had already been wresting with a serve that wouldn’t cooperate, and she spent the late stages of the first set battling through the kind of pressure she admitted she usually thrives on.
The turning point came late in the set when Gauff sat down 6-5 after two double faults had helped hand Vekić a rare window of hope. She later revealed in her post-match news conference that she had been feeling unusually exposed and was, in her words, “the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.” Yet she found a reset, joining the crowd in a moment of relief when she forced a tiebreak, which she captured 7-6(5).
Vekić, who had requested a medical timeout to examine her elbow, wasn’t ready to roll over. The match remained tight, with Vekić hitting nine first-set errors to Gauff’s seven as both players wore their emotions on their sleeves and tried to manage the high-stakes spotlight.
Gauff gained the early momentum in the second set, breaking in a string of errors from Vekić as she moved ahead 2-1 and then 3-1. She came close to sealing it when she double-faulted on her first match point, but an eventual backhand winner on the second sealed the win and sent her through to the third round.
Her performance was underscored by the on-court support team around her. Gavin MacMillan, the specialist brought in to help adjust her serve, was visible throughout, offering coaching as Gauff targeted a return to stability—often placing five serves in a row on the same spot near the T as she recalibrated under the world’s gaze.
“I think today I showed that I can get up after feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on the court,” Gauff said after the match, reflecting on the challenge of remodeling her serve in real time while the tournament’s momentum swirled around her. “There’s been a lot on me this tournament, more than usual, which I expected coming in.”
As she thanked the crowd in the on-court interview for the joy they’ve brought her, Gauff emphasized the human side of the sport—the moments of doubt, the grind of practice, and the resilience that keeps players pushing toward their goals.
What it means: This performance reinforced Gauff’s ability to navigate extreme pressure and adapt on the fly, a necessary trait as she pursues a deep run at a Grand Slam that has become a proving ground for her evolving game. Her win also highlighted the role of coaching support in fine-tuning a high-stakes serve under the glare of a major event.
Summary: Gauff overcame nerves, a high-pressure serve situation, and a medical timeout on her opponent to move into the third round of the U.S. Open, illustrating resilience and a willingness to adjust in real time.
Positive note: The night showcased the human side of a top athlete under the world’s brightest lights, with a crowd that responded to both the struggle and the eventual triumph. Gauff’s perseverance offers a hopeful glimpse into the rest of her campaign at Flushing Meadows.