Defending champion Coco Gauff digs deep in US Open to beat Svitolina

No 3 seed defeats Ukrainian 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Plays compatriot Emma Navarro in last 16

Coco Gauff arrived in New York this month carrying significant unwanted baggage. Although her summer had not started badly at all, it had descended into disappointment with a slew of dispiriting losses in significant tournaments. In stark contrast to her circumstances last year, when she capped off the best run of her life with her first grand slam title, the American returned to the US Open still searching for her best.

In front of a rocking crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff took a positive step forward as she drew on her resilience and problem-solving abilities after a testing start, recovering from a set down to reach the fourth round with a strong 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina.

“It means a lot. I knew today was gonna be a tough match, every time, Elina she’s a fighter,” said Gauff. “I knew I had to bring my best tennis, I thought I played well. I served much better than last match except the last service game but overall I was proud of what I was able to do.”

She stepped out here looking to take the initiative, dictating most exchanges by injecting pace into both groundstrokes, especially with her forehand, and constantly looking to break down the Gauff forehand.

Although Gauff served well early on, she gradually lost her way. The Ukrainian continued to take the ball early and put her under significant pressure and Gauff particularly struggled with her trusty backhand. Down a break point at 2-2 in the set, she was on the verge of crisis.

Even as the match seemed to be slipping from her grasp, the 20-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia remained composed and she confidently navigated the most important moments.

Gauff saved the break point by forcing herself inside the baseline, eliciting a backhand error from Svitolina with a forceful inside-out forehand, before closing out an excellent hold.

Surviving that difficult game provided the world No 3 with the impetus she had been searching for all afternoon. She produced a spectacular return game to break serve in the next game, firing four winners in total, including two forehands, to close it out, and then she never looked back. From 2-2, break point down in the second set, Gauff won nine of the next 11 games before closing out an important victory.

The manner that Gauff found a way through was particularly encouraging for her hopes of another deep run. Her defence, physicality and her ability to win when she is not playing well are all qualities that have allowed her to keep rising at a young age, but she knows that she also needs to take the initiative herself. In the decisive moments here, it was important that she served well and had the confidence and quality to step inside the baseline and attack off both groundstrokes.