Gauff fought hard in the round of 16

Defending champion Coco Gauff has reached the round of 16 at the US Open in New York.

The American won a hard-fought match against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the third round on Friday with 3:6,6:3,6:3.

The Chinese Zheng Qinwen had no trouble, beating the German Jule Niemeier 6:2, 6:1. The Spaniard Paula Badosa ended the run of qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse from Romania with a 4:6,6:1,7:6(8).

Third-seeded Gauff, who had lost just six games in the first two rounds in New York, faced her toughest test yet against Svitolina, but was able to improve her game as the match progressed.

Zheng: “Was focused from the start”

(Article continues below the video)

In the second set, it helped that Svitolina was unable to maintain her initial momentum and played defensively. The 20-year-old Gauff played her best tennis game in the deciding set.

Zheng was happy to have finished a match in two sets. “I was focused from the start,” said the 2024 Olympic champion and Australian Open finalist after the match.

“I lost to Jule in the third round of the 2022 US Open. I'm glad I'm the winner today and don't have to cry.”