Coco Gauff is energized after shaking off a rough start to defeat Elina Svitolina and progress to the fourth round of the US Open.
In the third round on Friday, Gauff, who was unaware that she had suffered five consecutive losses to players ranked in the top 50, struggled initially, dropping the first set 3-6. However, she recognized the need for a “reset” and took a moment to regroup. The 20-year-old American went to the bathroom, changed part of her attire, and splashed water on her face before returning to the court. This change of mindset helped her bounce back, ultimately winning the match with scores of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“I felt like a new person coming out,” said Gauff, the third seed. “I just didn’t want to leave the court with any regrets.”
After a shaky start filled with errors, Gauff dominated the latter part of the match, winning nine out of eleven games in a critical stretch. She showcased her resilience by coming back from losing the first set, a tactic that had previously served her well during her triumph at the 2023 US Open.
On Sunday, Gauff will face No. 13 Emma Navarro, a teammate from the Paris Olympics, in a bid for a quarterfinal spot. Navarro had previously eliminated Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
This match marks a significant turnaround for Gauff, who has faced challenges recently, having won only five of her last nine matches. This contrasts sharply with last year, where she triumphed in 18 of 19 matches, including a hard-court championship and her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows, the first U.S. teenager to do so since Serena Williams in 1999.
By the end of the first set against Svitolina, Gauff had committed 16 unforced errors and won just seven points while serving. However, her performance improved significantly in the following sets, as she became more aggressive with her forehand and engaged the crowd more. Svitolina noted that Gauff’s newfound energy significantly affected the dynamics of the match.
Everything shifted for Gauff when she broke Svitolina early in the second set, followed by an ace to close it. Her performance was further bolstered by the presence of fellow athletes in the audience, including UConn women’s basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.
Despite a slight struggle while serving for the match at 5-2, Gauff quickly regained her composure, breaking back Svitolina to secure the victory.
“I’m glad that I had that match,” Gauff remarked, reflecting on the experience as beneficial for her future challenges.
Since making her Grand Slam debut in 2019, Gauff has become known for her ability to win matches after dropping the opening set, recording 12 such victories. She has also become one of six American women to achieve 60 major match wins before turning 21.