Coco Gauff Makes Spectacular Comeback to Win Third Round Match at U.S. Open
In a stunning turn of events, Coco Gauff fought back from a precarious position to secure a victory against Elise Mertens in the third round of the U.S. Open. Initially appearing fallible and frustrated, Gauff looked far from her dominant form earlier in the week.
Mertens took an early lead, playing with looseness and aggression, while Gauff struggled with errors on almost every stroke. Uncharacteristically, Gauff showed signs of frustration throughout the match. She even yelled out angrily after a double fault in the first set, which Mertens won 6-3.
At this point, it seemed as though Gauff’s impressive run at the U.S. Open was in jeopardy. However, the young American superstar quickly turned things around and shifted the momentum in her favor. Winning the second set more confidently with a score of 6-3, Gauff displayed her determination to win in the third set.
Using her exceptional foot speed to retrieve every ball, Gauff forced Mertens into making errors. In the end, Gauff won the third set flawlessly with a score of 6-0. In her on-court interview, Gauff attributed her victory to the energy of the crowd and her own resilience.
“The energy today definitely helped me, I felt you guys, I was playing every point my hardest,” Gauff said. “When you lose the first set, you know that you have to show that you left all that energy in the first set and you’re ready to play.”
Gauff further emphasized her fighting spirit, stating that “the three setters show everybody else that I’m not going down without a fight.”
The Arthur Ashe Stadium was filled to capacity for the night match, with notable figures such as Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Anna Wintour, and Katie Holmes in attendance. The crowd overwhelmingly rallied behind Gauff, erupting in cheers of support throughout the match.
This was the third time Gauff and Mertens faced each other, with Gauff winning their last encounter in straight sets at the 2022 French Open. Gauff admitted in a pre-match interview that she was not expecting an easy victory and acknowledged Mertens’ abilities.
However, Gauff’s tenacity prevailed. Despite a shaky start, she delivered exceptional shots and showcased her emotional maturity, overshadowing Mertens’ performance.
Looking ahead, Gauff will face Caroline Wozniacki in the next round. Wozniacki, who recently returned to professional tennis after a three-year hiatus to focus on her family, has had an impressive start to the tournament. Gauff expressed her excitement about playing against the tennis legend, emphasizing that she would value the experience.
Although Gauff displayed the poise of a seasoned player during her match against Mertens, she humorously revealed her teenage excitement in an interview on the ESPN desk. Gauff admitted noticing Justin Bieber in the crowd during the second set and felt a sense of pressure not to lose in front of him. She recalled a similar feeling during her first-round match when former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were in attendance.
Gauff’s ability to overcome adversity and deliver a remarkable comeback will undoubtedly keep tennis fans eagerly anticipating her future matches in the U.S. Open.