Radiant Gauff triumphs, advancing to the US Open's Round of 16

In a promising display of resilience and improved serve, the American third seed, Coco Gauff, secured her place in the fourth round of the US Open with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over 28th seed Oceane Bouchard (Frech) on Saturday.

Gauff started the match on a strong note, breaking Frech in her first service game. Despite a minor setback when she was broken in the fifth game of the first set, allowing Frech to come back to 3-3, Gauff held her composure and regained her lead, taking a 4-3 advantage. She then held her serve to take a 5-3 lead and closed out the first set with a break of serve in the next game.

Gauff's serve, which had been a problem in the opening rounds, showed significant improvement in this match. She won 71% of her first-serve points during the encounter, and conceded only two break points throughout the entire match. Gauff was broken only once, in the fifth game of the first set.

In the second set, Gauff broke Frech again in the third game to take a 3-1 lead. She then won the next three games to win the set and the match in one hour and thirteen minutes. Gauff won the match by breaking Frech twice more to win the second set.

Reflecting on her performance, Gauff described it as a "step in the right direction." She also spoke positively about her emotional week, including her tearful display against Donna Vekic, stating that she doesn't want to repeat such a moment on court.

This match is a repeat of the duo's first meeting at the US Open in 2019, where Osaka overpowered Gauff in straight sets. However, Gauff reflected on the 2019 defeat, stating that she put too much pressure on herself and felt more expectation than belief.

With this win, Gauff's journey in the US Open continues, as she prepares for a fourth round showdown against Japan's Naomi Osaka. Gauff's preparations for the tournament were disrupted due to a coaching team shake-up just before the competition started. She replaced her coach Matt Daly with Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics expert who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka improve her serve, in preparation for the 2025 US Open to enhance her serve performance.

As Gauff continues her quest for success in the US Open, tennis fans are eagerly anticipating her next match against Osaka.