Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz close out strong day for US Open home hopes

NEW YORK – US Open defending champion Coco Gauff and 12th seed Taylor Fritz capped a terrific day at Flushing Meadows for the home hopes on Aug 28, as several Americans moved into the third round.

Gauff cleaned up early mistakes to beat unseeded German Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting up a meeting with 2019 semi-finalist Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

“It was a tricky match, she’s not someone that sometimes you play and you feel great after,” said the 20-year-old.

“She’s very annoying to play. The balls, you were able to hit winners on them, but because she’s slicing it, you have to generate all the power. So it was difficult, but that’s just that type of match that you kind of have to just get through.”

Fritz then closed out the action at Louis Armstrong Stadium with a convincing 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 defeat of Italian Matteo Berrettini. Big-hitting Frances Tiafoe and former finalist Madison Keys also did their bit to boost the American charge earlier in the day.

“I came in really focused. I felt like I was just locked in every point,” said Fritz, who will next face Argentinian Francisco Comesana. “I was just ready to go. Matteo is an extremely good player, a super-tough second round. So I came in extra locked in.”

Tiafoe, who reached the New York semi-finals in 2022, was in complete control when Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko retired at 6-4, 6-1, 1-0.

“Happy to get it done. Hate to win it that way but overall I thought I actually played pretty well today,” he said.

He next plays 21-year-old compatriot Ben Shelton, who electrified the home crowds in 2023 with a run to the semi-finals and had no problem getting past Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at the Grandstand.

The left-handed Shelton sent over 17 aces and walloped Bautista Agut with 59 winners, feeding off the energy of the boisterous fans amid stifling heat.

Shelton eliminated Tiafoe in the quarter-finals in 2023 and promised a “popcorn-type match” when the two meet again.

Keys, making her 13th main-draw appearance at the US Open, beat Australia’s Maya Joint 6-4, 6-0, striking first when she converted on her third break-point opportunity for a 4-3 lead en route to wrapping up the opening set on her serve.

The 29-year-old opened the second with another break and sprinted to the finish line in 62 minutes.

“After the first set, I feel like I made a few adjustments on my returns just to put a little bit more pressure on her,” said Keys, who retired from her two previous tournaments at Wimbledon and Toronto.

“Once I was able to get a little bit out ahead, I really just ran with the moment and was able to close it out.”

Up next for Keys is a clash with Belgian Elise Mertens.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Emma Navarro also progressed as the American hammered Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus 6-1, 6-1. She will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the next round.

But it was not all good news for the United States contingent at Flushing Meadows, as unseeded Taylor Townsend fell 6-3, 7-5 to Spanish 26th seed Paula Badosa. REUTERS, AFP