Gauff battles past Svitolina to reach US Open last 16

Defending champion Coco Gauff secured her place in the US Open's last 16 with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Friday. Gauff, the third seed, had breezed through her first two rounds, conceding only six games, but found her toughest challenge yet in Svitolina, who pushed her to raise her game.

Gauff acknowledged the difficulty of the match during her on-court interview. "I knew today would be tough. Every time I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I knew I had to bring my best tennis," Gauff said. She added that her performance was an improvement over her previous match, particularly in her serve, although she admitted to a lapse during her final service game. "Overall, I’m proud of what I was able to do," she noted.

The match started with both players on equal footing, as Gauff fended off two early break points to reach 2-2. However, Svitolina, the 27th seed, soon applied pressure and broke Gauff at love to take a 5-3 lead. She then won the last 11 points of the set, securing it 6-3 and seizing control of the match.

Svitolina's aggressive play, however, gradually diminished in the second set. She adopted a more defensive style, allowing Gauff to take advantage and energise the subdued crowd by breaking for a 4-2 lead. Gauff maintained her momentum and closed out the second set 6-3, leveling the match.

Gauff, looking to recover from recent disappointing results, saved her strongest performance for the deciding set. She broke Svitolina early and soon found herself in a grueling 37-shot rally, which she won, to extend her lead to 2-0. Gauff continued to dominate, establishing a double-break cushion at 4-1.

Although she had a chance to serve out the match, Gauff faltered, squandering a 40-love lead and giving Svitolina a brief lifeline. However, Gauff quickly regrouped, breaking back at love in the next game. The match ended when Svitolina netted a forehand, securing Gauff’s spot in the next round.

Reflecting on her performance, Gauff said her decision to be more aggressive in the latter stages of the match was key. "I was missing a lot of backhands in the net, so I focused on making fewer errors," she explained. "She was playing aggressively and hitting her spots. The difference was me being more aggressive, especially with my serve."

Gauff now faces fellow American Emma Navarro in the next round. Navarro had previously knocked Gauff out in the fourth round of Wimbledon, a loss that Gauff still remembers. "At Wimbledon, I mentally collapsed on the court. I was very frustrated, and she played well," Gauff said. "I have to expect her best tennis and be mentally prepared from start to finish."

Gauff is aiming to become the first woman to defend a US Open title since Serena Williams, who won three consecutive titles from 2012 to 2014.