Coco Gauff endured a rollercoaster of emotions and a shaky serve before steadying herself to defeat Donna Vekic 7-6(5), 6-2 and advance to the third round of the U.S. Open. The world No. 3 was visibly shaken after producing eight double faults in the opening set, including a costly one late that left her wiping away tears as the match seemed to slip away. But after taking a moment to regroup, she rallied with resilience—winning the tiebreak and carrying that momentum into a commanding second set.
Once settled, Gauff found her rhythm, cutting down on errors and landing just one double fault in the closing set while dictating play with her athleticism and shot-making. The atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium lifted further when Olympic champion Simone Biles was spotted cheering courtside, a presence Gauff later said gave her strength to push through. In her post-match comments, she admitted the emotional toll of battling both nerves and expectations but also emphasized gratitude for her support system. “I just told myself to keep fighting,” she said, underscoring the determination that keeps her in the hunt for another deep Grand Slam run.
