WHAT HAPPENED: Coco Gauff has repeatedly acknowledged her enormous debt to Serena Williams. Over the weekend she tweeted: “Serena, THANK YOU. It is because of you that I believe in this dream. The impact you’ve had on me goes beyond any words." The 18-year-old American phenom has long been talked about—yes, long, despite her young age—as an heir to the Williams throne.
On Sunday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 12th-seeded youngster took another big step towards fulfilling her potential and, yes, grabbing the torch from Serena.
The athletic Gauff, the youngest player remaining in the tournament, survived a tough challenge from the oldest, 33-year-old Zhang Shuai of China, 7-5, 7-5, to reach the quarterfinals for the first time at her home major.
Gauff, who defeated fellow American Madison Keys in the previous round, started the match slowly and nervously, perhaps recognizing the enormity of the opportunity in front of her. Unusually, it was her more dependable backhand that let her down. Despite being outplayed for much of the first set, down 4-5, Gauff reeled off nine of 12 points and three games in a row to seize the set. The teen pasted a backhand down the line on set point, electrifying the pro-American crowd.
At the start of the second set, heavy rains hit Flushing Meadows and the roof was closed; the lights came on and it became an indoor match. Both sets featured a series of long, high-velocity crosscourt exchanges, which Gauff got the better of as the match wore on.
Late in the closely contested second set, however, Zhang confidently struck a backhand down the line to snatch a 5-3 advantage. Yet she surrendered a 40-0 lead and handed it back to Gauff on the American’s third break-point chance of the next game. Gauff seized the gift and broke at love in the ensuing game, to the roar of the crowd, taking the lead 6-5.
In the final game, Gauff flew across the court to run down a drop shot, dipping it at Zhang’s feet at net. The Chinese player dumped a volley, and the roar of the crowd prompted her to retreat to the baseline with her hands covering her ears. Gauff held serve to win and leapt into the air.
"It feels insane," exclaimed Gauff on court after the win. “Ashe Stadium chanting my name, I was trying not to smile on the changeover."
The capacity crowd inside Ashe seemed abundantly willing to transfer their support from Serena to Coco. The first week of the US Open was all about Serena, of course, but in the second, Coco Gauff looks ready to blaze her own trail – and begin to live her own dreams.
WHAT IT MEANS: Gauff, who reached her first Grand Slam final earlier this year at Roland Garros, advances to play 17th seed Caroline Garcia of France, the hottest woman on hard courts this summer, for the chance to make the semifinals at the US Open for the first time.
Zhang, ranked No. 36, has now reached the Round of 16 at all four majors (she has twice been to Grand Slam quarterfinals, at Wimbledon and the Australian Open). The Chinese veteran has collected seven Top 20 wins, but the last one was in 2016. But she won her third career WTA singles earlier this year, in Lyon.
MATCH POINT: Both Zhang and Gauff are accomplished doubles players. Zhang won the 2021 US Open crown (with Samantha Stosur) and Gauff is currently ranked No. 1 in women’s doubles.
