Coco Gauff made adjustments to her serving technique after a challenging first set during her U.S. Open match on Wednesday night, ultimately defeating Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the third round. Despite the victory, Gauff recognized issues with her serve, acknowledging that she tossed the ball too far forward and too low.
“I didn’t serve great at all,” said Gauff, who extended her winning streak to nine matches at the site of her first Grand Slam title last year. “I got lucky. I think I only got broken once, but probably could have — should have — gotten broken a couple of more times.”
The match took place in hot conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the 20-year-old from Florida struggled early on against Germany’s Maria, 37, who frequently used slicing shots during the game. Gauff found the match to be physically demanding, as she had to generate significant power against Maria’s style, making it more tiring than it appeared.
Gauff’s serving was problematic in the first set, leading to seven double-faults and fewer than half of her first serves landing in. She faced five break points and had more unforced errors, totaling 20 compared to just 10 winners. Her visible frustration included rolled eyes and gestures of confusion towards her guest box.
Although Gauff encountered difficulties when serving for the first set, she managed to hold on after a couple of break points from Maria. The dynamic shifted dramatically in the second set, as Gauff displayed improved form, recording 15 winners against only five unforced errors.
Maria recognized Gauff’s mental strength and powerful game, noting missed opportunities in the first set that contributed to her defeat. Gauff’s next opponent will be 27th-seeded Elina Svitolina, who won her match convincingly, as Gauff aims for a spot in the fourth round.
Having faced early exits in recent tournaments, including tough losses in both Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics, Gauff expressed her relief and optimism moving forward. She stated, “It’s been a tough few weeks,” but the momentum from her second-set performance could signal better days ahead.