WHAT HAPPENED: Billed as a battle of teen titans, Coco Gauff second-round tussle with 16-year-old wunderkind Mirra Andreeva had all the making of a tempestuous tussle when it kicked off in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.
Gauff had other ideas, however.
Cool, calm and collected, the No. 6 seed took control of the contest after an early trade of breaks and displayed her superiority in a 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach the US Open’s third round for the third time.
It was a bulletproof performance from the 19-year-old, who pushed play with her serve and forehand and capitalized on the lion’s share of her opportunities as she stretched her current winning streak to seven and improved to 13-1 in her last 14 matches.
Gauff was tested by the rising world No. 63 at times across the 76-minute affair, but had all the answers as she marched to her 39th career Grand Slam win, and second against Andreeva, this year. (Gauff came from a set down to beat Andreeva in the third round at Roland Garros this year, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1).
Red-hot of late, and on the heels of big titles at Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, Gauff credited her newfound perspective as a contributing factor to her recent uptick in performance.
“I think when I was younger, I used to think that every match was life or death, and when you realize that some of your competitors on tour are in their thirties it puts in perspective that you still have to allow yourself time to make mistakes–the losses, as long as you learn from them, are OK,” she said.
On Wednesday, she outclassed the talented Andreeva with more than perspective.
She bombed big serves under the hot sun in Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 22 of 27 first-serve points and surrendering only one break of serve–in the first game of the match. She ripped six forehand winners, and 24 overall, as she was quick to pounce on short balls and eager to keep Andreeva pinned back behind her baseline.
“She’s the type of player that if you give her something she is going to take advantage,” Gauff said on court after the win. “Today I think I did well by making her play off her back foot.”
They may both be teenagers, but Wednesday's win showed that there is a big disparity in the experience gap between the two talents. Fast-rising Andreeva was playing the juniors at this year’s Australian Open, and is competing in her third main draw at a major here in New York. Earlier this summer, Andreeva made waves on her Wimbledon debut when she became the youngest player to reach the second week since … Gauff in 2019.
It was just over four years ago at Wimbledon when Gauff, then 15, stormed onto the Grand Slam stage and into the second week at SW19. She’s competing in her 17th main draw this week at Flushing Meadows.
With all that experience and perspective under her belt, Gauff will look to continue her hot streak into the weekend in New York–and beyond.
WHAT IT MEANS: Gauff moves into the third round and awaits a showdown with Elise Mertens, who beat Gauff's compatriot Danielle Collins 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1 in a Round 2 where she saved two match points. Further into the second week, Gauff is bidding to become the first American woman to reach back-to-back quarterfinals at the US Open since Serena Williams (2018-20).
MATCH POINT: Gauff has won 39 matches so far in 2023, the fifth most on tour behind Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. She improved her lifetime record at the Grand Slams to 39-16, while Andreeva’s record at the Slams drops to 6-3.
