Coco Gauff endured a rollercoaster of emotions under the lights in New York, wiping away tears during a tense second-round match at the US Open. Despite a series of service errors that threatened to derail her momentum, the 20-year-old American managed to overcome Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 and secure her place in the third round.
Serving Struggles Continue
Gauff’s serve has been under scrutiny throughout the season, and the issues resurfaced during this match. Double faults and inconsistent placement plagued her early on, forcing her to rely heavily on her athleticism and mental grit. She has recently partnered with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to refine her technique, but the transition is still in progress.
A Gritty Performance Against Vekic
Facing a seasoned opponent in Vekic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, Gauff had to dig deep. The first set was a nail-biter, with both players exchanging breaks and momentum swings. Gauff eventually edged out the tiebreak, and her confidence grew in the second set as she began to find rhythm and control.
Tears and Triumph
During her post-match interview, Gauff became visibly emotional. “Honestly, today was a tough match for me. But I’m just happy with how I was able to manage. It’s been a rough couple weeks,” she said, her voice cracking as tears welled up. She paused, then added, “You guys bring me so much joy. I’m doing this for myself but also for you. No matter how tough it gets inside, you can do it.”
Looking Ahead
With the crowd firmly behind her, Gauff continues her campaign in New York with renewed determination. While her serve remains a work in progress, her resilience and connection with fans have become defining features of her journey. As she moves into the third round, all eyes will be on how she handles the mounting pressure and whether she can channel her emotions into another deep run at Flushing Meadows.
Gauff at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025
Now ranked no.3, Coco achieved a 37-12 record in 2025. Coco is playing at the U.S. Open where she beat the world no.79 Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 and the world no.49 Donna Vekic 7-6(5) 6-2.
Cori Gauff will square off with the world no.33 Magdalena Frech in the 3rd round. Their head to head is 2-0 for Gauff.
Gauff conquered 2 titles in 2025 in Australia and French Open. Gauff got to the final in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) and in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia).
Gauff won 11 titles in her career: 7 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)