Tears Flow as Gauff Advances to US Open's Third Round
Coco Gauff Overcomes Challenges to Advance in US Open
The 2023 US Open is proving to be a tough but rewarding tournament for tennis sensation Coco Gauff. After a hard-fought victory in her second round match, Gauff will face Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech in the third round on Saturday.
Gauff, fresh off her US Open title in 2023, secured her place in the next round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 win on Arthur Ashe Stadium's main court. However, the match was not without its challenges. Gauff struggled in the first set, being broken four times and committing 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults.
Despite the setbacks, Gauff managed to regroup after winning the first set tie-break and did not drop her serve in the second set. Her resilience was evident as she fought back from a difficult start to secure the win.
Gauff's victory comes after a series of changes to her coaching team, with the addition of a new biomechanics coach, Gavin MacMillan, just days before the US Open tournament. MacMillan, who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka rework her serve successfully, is credited with assisting Gauff in improving her serve.
The changes seem to be paying off, as Gauff's serve was a significant factor in her win against her unspecified opponent. However, the match was not without its drama. Gauff was seen choking back tears during her on-court interview, thanking the home crowd for their support.
Meanwhile, Croatian player Donna Vekic had a traumatic outing in her US Open match, with multiple double faults and being broken multiple times. Vekic was seen burying her face into her towel in despair during the match.
Gauff found inspiration during her match from Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles, who was present at the tournament. Biles' presence helped Gauff to push through the tough moments and secure the win.
As the US Open tournament continues, Gauff will look to build on her victory and continue her run in the tournament. Her next match against Frech will be a challenging one, but with her resilience and determination, Gauff is sure to give her all in the fight for the title.
Sources: AFP (2025)
