US Open 2022: Coco Gauff stormed into the round of 16 in New York with a smooth two-set victory over Madison Keys

Coco Gauff (USA/No. 12) got off to a furious start in the third round match against Madison Keys (USA/No. 20) and quickly gained a 4-1 lead.

The 2017 finalist and 2018 semi-finalist initially found it difficult to cope with the powerful, straightforward play of her opponent, who was nine years her junior.

Only when Gauff was already comfortably leading 4:1 in the second round did something like resistance stir. Keys came up to 3:4, but immediately gave up her service again – the preliminary decision. “She plays so maturely. She can do everything on the pitch,” said Mats Wilander Eurosport: “Above all, she can defend really well.”

After 1:11 hours, Gauff, who used five of her nine break chances, turned her first match point into her biggest milestone in New York. “It means a lot to me,” she said after her third straight win at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she had yet to win before 2022.

Gauff now against Zhang

Gauff admitted that she wasn’t sure how the audience would deal with the US duel, but was happy about the broad cheering. “I hope you will support me again in the next match,” she said in the winner’s interview on the pitch.

Five years ago, as a young fan, she was in the stadium to admire Venus and Serena Williams. “And now I’m here myself, that’s pretty cool,” Gauff said.

Opponent in the round of 16 is now the 33-year-old Zhang Shuai (China), who won against Rebecca Marino (Canada) 6: 2, 6: 4 and thus made it into the round of the last 16 of the US Open for the first time in the ninth attempt. Zhang also failed to qualify six times.

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