Home SPORTS US Open: Coco Gauff to Face Donna Vekic in Second Round

US Open: Coco Gauff to Face Donna Vekic in Second Round

Read
Coco Gauff
Gauff advances to next round, set to meet Vekic


Coco Gauff secures a spot in the second round of the US Open and will face Donna Vekic next. Get the latest updates on their upcoming match and tournament schedule.


“I knew I had to make a quick decision because I knew he would be pretty sought after...”


Coco Gauff is breathing a sigh of relief after securing a spot in the US Open's second round. The third seed and former champion eked out a 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 victory over Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in a grueling three-hour match. Despite her struggles, Gauff expressed satisfaction with her win, saying, “It wasn't the best, but I'm happy to get through to the next round.”


“It was a tough match. Ajla was tough, she was getting so many balls back,” 2023 US Open champion Gauff said.


Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American and reigning French Open champion, has shaken up her coaching team just before the US Open in a bid to fix her shaky service game. She parted ways with coach Matt Daly and brought in Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist who previously worked with Aryna Sabalenka to address her serve issues.


Despite this change, Gauff's performance on Tuesday night suggests she still has a lot to work on. She struggled in her first-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 in a grueling three-hour battle. Gauff's serve was broken six times, and she finished with 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults. Tomljanovic, on the other hand, suffered eight breaks of serve and made 56 unforced errors before bowing out.


Gauff admitted that her unsettled build-up to the tournament had been draining, saying she was “mentally exhausted.” Despite this, she's happy to have made it to the next round and is looking to improve with each match. 





Gauff's Coaching Change

Gauff explained that she made the sudden decision to switch coaches because she didn't want to waste time continuing with the wrong techniques. She hopes that working with MacMillan will help her serve better in the long term.


Coco Gauff's first-round win at the US Open was a nail-biter, with the 21-year-old American struggling past Ajla Tomljanovic in a thrilling three-hour match. Despite her impressive performance, Gauff wasn't satisfied with her game, admitting she had plenty to work on. “It wasn't the best, but I'm happy to get through to the next round,” Gauff said after her 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 victory.


Coco Gauff reflected on her challenging build-up to the US Open, admitting that it's been “really tough, mentally exhausting.” Despite the struggles, she's focused on improving with each match. After her grueling three-set win over Ajla Tomljanovic, Gauff said, “But I'm trying. It wasn't the best today, but it was an improvement on last week (in Cincinnati); I'm just trying to improve with each match.” This mindset seems to be helping her navigate the tournament so far.




Gauff's performance showed glimpses of brilliance, particularly in her serve, which has been a work in progress. She's been working with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to address her serve issues. Although she still struggled with double faults, her ability to hold serve when it mattered most was crucial in securing the win.


Gauff's determination and emotional resilience were on full display as she fought back from a setback and found a way to win. The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium responded with applause, recognizing her effort and grit. As she moves forward in the tournament, fans will be watching closely to see if she can build on this momentum.


Coco Gauff explained that she made the decision to change her coaching team just before the US Open to capitalize on Gavin MacMillan's availability. She wanted to act quickly to work with the biomechanics specialist, who she believes can help her improve her serve. By making this change, Gauff is prioritizing her development and taking proactive steps to address her game.


“I know when I did this, I was not going to maybe serve the best,” Gauff said. “I just felt like I don't want to waste any more time.


“If I could have worked with Gavin earlier, I would have, but he was on the team of another player. Then he magically became available.


“I knew I had to make a quick decision because I knew he would be pretty sought after. I think hopefully this time next year I'll be serving much better.”


Match Statistics and Highlights

  • Unforced Errors: Gauff made 59 unforced errors, while Tomljanovic had 56
  • Double Faults: Gauff served 10 double faults, Tomljanovic had 7
  • Breaks of Serve: Gauff was broken six times, Tomljanovic eight times
  • Service Games Won: Gauff won 65% of her service games, Tomljanovic 53%
  • Error-Strewn Match: Gauff accumulated 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults, while Tomljanovic had 56 unforced errors and eight breaks of serve.
  • Crucial Moments: Tomljanovic had opportunities to close out the match, including serving at 5-4 in the third set with two set points, but Gauff broke back and eventually sealed the win.
  • Serve Improvement: Gauff's new coach, Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist, seems to be paying off, as she showed improvement in her serve, winning 66% of her first-serve points.


Next Challenge

Coco Gauff will face Donna Vekic from Croatia in the second round of the 2025 US Open. Their match is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET. According to Dimers' simulation results, Gauff has an 83% chance of winning, with a predicted 78% chance of taking the first set. The under 19.5 games has a 53% chance of hitting.


Head-to-Head Record:

Donna Vekic currently leads 1-0 in their head-to-head matches, having beaten Gauff 7-6(7), 6-2 in the third round of the singles event at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. However, Gauff's recent form might give her an edge in this upcoming match.






Tags :

No comments:

Leave comment here

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )
Powered by Blogger.