Coco Gauff recovered from being a set right down to beat Elina Svitolina 3-6 6-3 6-3 within the third spherical of the US Open, protecting alive the 20-year-old American’s dream of defending her first Grand Slam title.
The third seed made mistake after mistake within the first set on Arthur Ashe Stadium, dropping the 11 factors of the opener to lose it 6-3 towards Twenty seventh-seeded Svitolina.
However Gauff raised her degree thereafter, managing to reel off 9 of 11 video games at one level as she got here from behind to win, one thing she did 3 times en path to successful final 12 months’s event – together with within the last towards Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff’s victory additionally ends a five-match shedding streak towards top-50 opponents.
On Sunday, she is going to both play fellow American, and thirteenth seed, Emma Navarro – who beat Gauff within the fourth spherical at Wimbledon this summer season – or Nineteenth-ranked Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, for a spot within the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Gauff: The group at all times give me vitality
Coco Gauff, talking to Sky Sports activities courtside:
“It was a tough match. I got a little bit nervous at the end, but I was able to find my nerves and try and focus.
“I am actually proud and general very pleased with how I performed. Elina will not be a straightforward participant in any respect, particularly so early within the event.
“I was using the crowd to my advantage, they always give me energy. I was trying my best to stay pumped but also stay clam – sometimes the adrenaline can be too much. It’s about finding the balance.
“There’s nonetheless a protracted technique to go. I am centered on the match in entrance of me and I am simply having fun with it.”
Henman: Gauff will need to raise her level
Sky Sports’ Tim Henman:
“It is about successful. It seems nerve-racking on the market however she has accomplished very nicely to reply.
“The stress levels were enormous. You can see from her reaction, she’s pleased with the win, but it’s also massive relief.
“She’s received the job accomplished however there may be room for enchancment. It is a signal of a fantastic participant when you’ll be able to win with out taking part in nice.
“She is still in a good place, she’s still in the tournament and she can still play better. I just think when she comes up against better players, she is going to need to raise her level.”
Sky Sports activities’ Feliciano Lopez:
“A win is a win. After a bad start, she found a way to turn the situation around and she ended up winning the match.
“It is about surviving typically. She would not at all times look good on the court docket, tennis-wise, however she discovered a means and she or he can have one other alternative [in the fourth round].
“It showed that Coco is a great competitor and sometimes you win when being a better competitor than the rest. I think the belief is there.”
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis in September?
- Jasmin Open, Tunisia – WTA 250 (9-15 September)
- Guadalajara Open, Mexico – WTA 500 (9-15 September)
- Korea Open – WTA 500 (16 -22 September – with Emma Raducanu in motion)
- Thailand Open – WTA 250 (16 -22 September)
- Chengdu Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- Hangzhou Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- China Open – WTA 1000 (Sept 25 – Oct 6)
- Japan Open – ATP 500 (Sept 25 – Oct 1)
- China Open – ATP 500 (Sept 26 – Oct 2)
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and might be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.