By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 30, 2025
Picture credit score: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
NEW YORK—Tears and fears haunted Coco Gauff on Arthur Ashe Stadium Thursday evening.
In the present day, Gauff plugged into positivity delivering elation and domination to the US Open third spherical.
Gauff charged by way of 9 of the final 10 video games dismissing Magdalena Frech, 6-1, 6-3 to race into the US Open fourth spherical for the fourth consecutive yr.
“I assumed at present I performed nicely,” Gauff stated. “It was powerful taking part in two evening matches. Having to play within the shade on that aspect [today], it was type of arduous to see the ball, however total I’m very pleased with how I performed and to be by way of to the subsequent spherical.”
A few hours after Gauff’s win, Naomi Osaka cracked 9 aces defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium to arrange a blockbuster Flushing Meadows fourth-round conflict vs. Gauff in a battle of former US Open champion.
Montreal finalist Osaka exploited 14 double faults from Kasatkina posting her ninth win in her final 10 matches.
Serving for the match at present, Osaka drilled three winners, together with a forehand drive volley that skimmed the tape, closing in a single hour, 44 minutes. Osaka hit 37 winners, 22 greater than the counter-punching Kasatkina.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to inform myself to remain calm,” Osaka instructed Blair Henley afterward. “I used to be so shaky at present. I used to be glad, I feel it was an entertaining match. I used to be glad every time I come right here it looks like residence and also you guys had been nice so thanks.”
The third-seeded Gauff is 3-2 lifetime vs. the Twenty third-seeded Osaka.
“I hope can someone come to the match and cheer for me,” Osaka stated. “I imply it’s type of powerful taking part in an American right here, however I hope you guys type of adopted me as nicely.
“I type of additionally see [Coco] as just a little sister so it’s actually cool to be taking part in her right here once more.”
After all, in each Gauff match her serve is beneath the microscope.
Ten days in the past, Gauff axed former coach Matt Daly and employed Aryna Sabalenka’s former biomechanical coach Gavin MacMillan, who helped world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka repair her wayward serve.
The highest-seeded Sabalenka has credited MacMillan with exhibiting her video of flaws in her serve and serving to her right them to the extra streamlined movement that has helped her rise to world No. 1 and attain 4 of the final seven main finals.
The 2023 US Open champion Gauff’s serving woes hit a nadir in Montreal this month the place Gauff coughed up 43 double faults in three matches en path to the quarterfinals.
In the present day, Gauff registered her greatest serving day since bringing MacMillan on board.
The third-seeded Gauff took some tempo off the primary serve and aimed for greater targets, usually jamming up Frech with physique serves proper into the hip. Gauff served 76 p.c, received 25 of 35 first-serve factors and face solely two break factors in a clear 73-minute triumph.
Gauff surged to a 3-0 lead then double-faulted again the break within the fifth recreation, considered one of 4 doubles she hit at present. French exploited the American’s third error to stage at 3-all.
Then Gauff shifted into a better gear. Working the ball nook to nook and typically stepping in to smack her trademark two-hander, Gauff overpowered the Pole changing her third break level to interrupt once more for 5-3.
On her second set level, Gauff pounded away on the Frech forehand drawing an errant shot on the sixteenth stroke to grab a one-set lead after 42 minutes.
Opposite to the emotional stress she confirmed Thursday evening when Gauff shed tears after taking the primary set of a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Donna Vekic, the Delray Seaside baseliner was each extra relaxed and participant extra proactive tennis at present.
Gauff received 10 of 11 journeys to internet on this third-rounder. The load of Gauff’s groundstrokes and her pace across the court docket proved oppressive within the second set.
The 2023 US Open champion received 14 of 16 factors in a single stretch, scoring a pair of affection breaks, as she stormed out to a 4-1 lead. On her second match level, Gauff closed it on a Frech error, enhancing to 16-2 lifetime in Grand Slam third-round matches.
A day after American seeds Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Emma Navarro all suffered painful defeats, Gauff was all smiles becoming a member of 2024 finalist and former doubles accomplice Jessica Pegula and world No. 1 Taylor Townsend within the spherical of 16 with Amanda Anisimova nonetheless standing as nicely.
The fourth-round conflict vs. Osaka shall be Gauff’s hardest check of the event up to now.
