COCO GAUFF SURVIVED A late-match drama to keep her US Open title defence alive with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina on Friday as men’s defending champion Novak Djokovic aimed to further his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Gauff’s third-set surge had carried her to a 5-2 lead and triple match point, but she delivered a pair of double faults and Svitolina saved another with a blazing backhand on the way to a break.
But Gauff broke Svitolina at love in the next game to lock up the win.
In a tense, physical encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff regrouped after a rocky end to the first set saw Svitolina break at love for a 5-3 lead and pocket the opener with a love game.
Gauff gained her first break of the match on her fourth opportunity for a 4-2 lead in the second and held on to force the third.
“I knew today was going to be a tough match – she’s a fighter,” Gauff said, saying more aggression on her forehand and fewer backhand errors helped her turn things around.
In other early matches, seventh-seeded Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen of China, who rallied from a set down in each of her first two matches, dispatched Germany’s Jule Niemeier 6-2, 6-1.
“Finally it’s the first match I won in two sets,” she said.
Spain’s Paula Badosa had to fight back for a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8) victory over Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who had toppled Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round.
Gauff was followed on Ashe by Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, in a rematch of their memorable all-American quarter-final last year won by Shelton – who became the youngest American man in the US Open semis since Michael Chang in 1992.
© AFP 2024
After my comments on the journal last night, I’d like to say I feel I went a bit over the top with a number of people regarding the Irish team selection. I felt my comments were judge-mental and rude and for that I’d like to take this chance to
apologize,
To absolutely NOBODY. All you fan boys can keep being salty. Farrell has picked burns as the main kicker who nearly missed a kick in front of the posts on Sunday. Nothing even has to be said for Keith Earls. Absolutely shocking team.
@Dave: Johnny missed touch last week too and on many occasions in the past, it happens. I believe Earls has a proven record at test level. Still one of the fastest in the squad, great in the air and defensively sound. Whereas you’re track record shows something far less desirable
@Dave: t
@Dave: that’s really clever what you did there! I was hooked, so excited about this apology from some random man on the internet, but then you totally flipped it!! So clever. Well done!!
@Dave: you must be feeling a little lonely over on Twitter with your 6 followers, but hopefully you’ll get a response over here to your trolling.
@Dave: Conor MacGregor called, he wants his shtick back
@Dave: come on pal, you haven’t seen your wife and kids in 3 days. Put the phone down and go downstairs
@Sam Murray: pretty sure the wife has left him
@David Nugent: pretty sure a gowl lile him never has a wife to begin with. Who’d have him?
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: ha ha
@Dave: Lol! Brilliant.
Sexton and Murray haven’t given a performece for a long time. Let’s give the new fellas a chance…
@Leonard O’mahony: nonsense, Sexton may have been a little bit off his usual outstanding self lately but hasn’t been a million miles off and Murray was poor early last year but is having one of his best seasons this time around. In saying that I’m delighted other lads are getting a chance in a big game
I’m 95% sure Sexton would of been jogging out Sunday afternoon if it wasn’t for this doctor, I’d say his wife and mum wouldn’t let him play tbh and fair enough.
@hypebeast: you’d be wrong then. I’d imagine the doctors in the Irish camp would uphold their professionalism regardless
I was deflated reading the team today. But on reflection even if we lose this will be a good thing. Hopefully the younger guys get a taste of what its like to play a proper French team. Im sure its heart over head stuff but I think this team have so much to prove and will want to win for Farrell and co especially given the doctors unprofessional comments. Casey and Byrne might come on and give a Stringer and O Gara type performance to win a close game in the dying minutes. In the words of Christopher Reeve “Once you choose hope anythings possible”
While it is never good players’ losing spots due to injury or misfortune, I am somewhat looking forward to seeing why sort of bench Ireland has ahead of the RWC2023. Sexton, Murray, O’Mahony, Earls, Healy all need to be replaced. So while I have sympathy for the injured (not for O’Mahony as he was just stupid), I am glad that these guys are getting a shot. I think the average age of the Irish squad is at least 5 years too old to be considered contenders in 2023.
@Corkonian In Dublin: you say that you “think”, I suggest you find something you’re good at instead.
We’re going to lose anyway so might as well give a few young guys a chance
Plenty of rumours whispering about Sextons field of vision being impaired. It may be time. Just saying.