Coco Gauff advanced to the third round of the US Open on Thursday, defeating Spanish opponent Paula Badosa in straight sets. The American won 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in a match lasting under two hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the evening session. Gauff will face another Spanish competitor, Cristina Bucsa, in her next contest as she pursues a second US Open championship title.
The 22-year-old American displayed confident tennis throughout the encounter, though she acknowledged moments of nervousness during the match. Gauff noted that facing an opponent of Badosa’s caliber helped strengthen her competitive confidence. She recognized her opponent’s ability to hit aggressive winners and powerful return shots, presenting a formidable challenge that she successfully managed.
The first set saw Gauff break Badosa’s serve in the seventh game after a failed drop shot attempt. The American maintained her momentum by holding serve to secure the set 6-4. In the second set, both players broke serve multiple times, with Badosa recovering from an early break to level the match at 4-4. The decisive tiebreaker went to Gauff when Badosa’s backhand sailed long, clinching Gauff’s progression to the next round.
This victory marks progress in Gauff’s campaign at the tournament. She had previously won five of their last eight head-to-head matchups against Badosa, with Thursday’s result adding to her recent success against the Spanish player.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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