NEW YORK – Coco Gauff’s grit was on full display Thursday night at the US Open, as the world No. 2 overcame serving struggles, emotional hurdles, and a determined opponent to book her place in the third round. The 20-year-old American battled past Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6 (5), 6-2 under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
From the start, Gauff’s body language revealed the tension she was carrying. Between points she repeatedly wiped tears from her eyes, fighting to hold her composure in a match that tested both her nerves and her patience. Her serve – long considered a weakness despite her powerful all-court game again became a liability, producing eight double faults.
Those struggles echoed her first-round win earlier in the week, where inconsistency behind the baseline nearly cost her. Gauff has been working with a new coach to sharpen her mechanics and confidence on serve, but on this night, she leaned on her trademark resilience and elite athleticism to steady the ship.
The first set became a tug of war, with neither player giving much away. Gauff clawed through the tiebreak 7-5, releasing a roar of relief after securing the opener. The momentum shifted decisively in the second set as she settled into a rhythm, dictating rallies with her forehand and covering the court with signature speed. Vekic, despite flashes of brilliance, struggled to match Gauff’s intensity as the American pulled away.
After sealing the victory, Gauff acknowledged her ongoing battle with emotions and her serve but emphasized her determination to keep improving. “It wasn’t pretty, but I fought,” she said. “Sometimes that’s what it takes.”
With the crowd behind her, Gauff remains firmly in the hunt, even as she works to iron out the flaws that continue to shadow her title ambitions.
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