US Open 2024: Coco Gauff fights back to earn comeback win over Elina Svitolina and storm into the…see more

US Open 2024: Coco Gauff fights back to earn comeback win over Elina Svitolina and storm into the fourth round

Coco Gauff survived her toughest test yet at this year’s US Open as she came back to beat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Gauff started the match by forcing a deuce from 0-40 on Svitolina’s serve – and while she’d go on to lose the game, that series was indicative of the graft she’d go on to show as she kept her US Open defense alive.

Svitolina, the world No. 28, was in a Wimbledon quarterfinal just last month and Gauff did well to ride out some moments of turbulence and get stronger as the match went on as she fed off of the crowd’s energy.

‘I knew today was gonna be a tough match,’ Gauff said afterwards on the court. ‘…She’s a fighter.’

There was precious little separating the players early on in this rally-fest, as both were often happy to stay on the baseline and bank on their ground strokes.

That worked for both of them initially as both players held serve through seven games, though Gauff had to overcome a few wobbles as she escaped three break points in her first three service games – including a 15-40 gap that she made up down 2-1.

Gauff then found herself in the opposite position as she led 40-15 with Svitolina serving at 3-3 – but she failed to capitalize and it wasn’t long before her opponent landed the first blow of the match.

The Ukrainian comprehensively broke Gauff in the next game, winning every point after three straight backhand misses from the American, and there was little resistance soon afterward as she served for the set.