Coco Gauff displayed resilience as she overcame a tumultuous start to defeat Elina Svitolina and secure her place in the fourth round of the US Open. The match took place in New York, where Gauff, despite dropping the first set 3-6, regrouped to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-3.
Unaware of her recent five-match losing streak against opponents ranked in the top 50, Gauff recognized the need for a reset after losing 11 consecutive points to Svitolina. Before the second set, the 20-year-old from Florida took a moment to change her outfit and refresh herself, returning to the court with renewed energy. “I felt like a new person coming out,” Gauff said, emphasizing her desire to avoid any regrets.
This comeback marked a stark contrast to her earlier performance, where Gauff committed 16 unforced errors and struggled with her serve, landing only 45% of first serves. However, she turned the tide in the last two sets by playing more aggressively and engaging the supportive crowd.
Svitolina, who acknowledged battling an ankle injury, noted that Gauff’s increased aggression and crowd support shifted the match’s momentum. After breaking Svitolina in the second set, Gauff celebrated enthusiastically, urging the audience to rally behind her.
Ultimately, Gauff’s win improved her record in deciding-set matches at Grand Slam events to 15-5, a notable achievement among active women’s players. Looking ahead, she is set to face No. 13 Emma Navarro on Sunday, a teammate from the Paris Olympics who previously eliminated her at Wimbledon.
Gauff’s victory also celebrates her reaching 60 major match wins before turning 21, joining an exclusive group of American women, including legends like Serena Williams and Chris Evert.