Coco Gauff overcomes Paula Badosa test to reach US Open third round

NEW YORK – Home favourite Coco Gauff overcame Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the second round of the US Open on Sept 3 to extend her bid for a second title at Flushing Meadows.

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina and former US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek also progressed to the third round.

On a sweltering evening that contrasted with the rain-hit opening days, world No. 4 Gauff took to Arthur Ashe Court with the backing of a partisan crowd and hopes of continuing her pursuit of a third Grand Slam title.

But it was no simple task against the world No. 87, who, despite the gulf in the rankings, holds a positive record over the American, including victories in their last two meetings.

Gauff said: “Obviously, you know, I would prefer maybe not to play somebody I’ve lost to so many times second round. But I think today was a big confidence booster.

“And I think getting through in straight sets too makes a big difference. Yes, I was battle-tested, but I think it was a good battle where I wasn’t out on the court for three hours.”

The pair traded blows from the opening exchanges, but it was Gauff who struck with a decisive break. She was aided by a costly forehand error from the Spaniard that appeared to rattle her both mentally and in her execution.

The second set and following tiebreak proved just as much of a spectacle, with both players swapping breaks until Badosa sent a long ball on match point, prompting a euphoric celebration from Gauff as she sealed her place in the next round.

“Paula is a tough player. I feel like I had the lead but there wasn’t too much I did wrong. She stepped it up. I’m really happy to be through today,” the 22-year-old said on court.

“I need matches like this to build my confidence. I’m happy with how I managed today. There was a bit of nerves.”

Fan favourite Gauff will next face Cristina Bucsa.

Australian Open champion Rybakina also defeated another Spaniard, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round.

Osaka fights back, Swiatek sails through

Two-time champion Osaka overcame a flurry of mistakes and reclaimed her composure with a bathroom break to fight past Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

The 2018 and 2020 winner was pristine through the first set, but her form dropped in the second just as Siniakova hit her stride.

Osaka went to the locker room before the third set, a decision that helped her move on.

“I think I was a little bit too hard on myself, so I took the bathroom break, tried to regroup and have no regrets,” said Osaka, who will next play Belgian Elise Mertens.

“Obviously, the match was really difficult. I think on my end it was more, like, mentally I wanted to play perfectly. Obviously that’s not going to happen every day.

“In the third set, I just tried to do what I could do, and thankfully I was able to win.”

She emerged back on the court with new resolve, sprinting through the first three games and saving two break points in the fifth before closing it out with an unreturnable serve.

Osaka has provided some of Flushing Meadows’ most memorable moments – from her breakthrough 2018 win to her public advocacy for racial justice en route to the title in 2020 – and said she was able to pull from her “memory bank” of compelling wins to help her power through.

“When it gets to the third set, I try to think of all of the matches I was able to pull through,” said Osaka, who reached the semi-finals a year ago.

“I was trying to tell myself in the third set, like, keep going and keep trying to take the opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Swiatek had things mostly her own way during her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentinian Nadia Podroska.

She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away with two breaks for a 5-1 lead in the second, polishing off the win in an hour and 11 minutes.

It was another encouraging performance for the former world No. 1, who had not reached a final in 2026 until her run to the title at Toronto in August.

“I’m here with better feeling than any other Grand Slam this year,” Swiatek said. “Just trying to enjoy every day and improve the game every day.”

Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys saved five match points as she rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10-5).

Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva had a more straightforward win, defeating Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.

Eala reaches third round

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, meanwhile, brushed aside Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 to keep the buzz going for her fervent following in New York.

The 21-year-old lefty lost to the Ukrainian in Strasbourg earlier this year but had the right formula this time around to seal a meeting against Iva Jovic of the United States.

“My patience and the consistency of my focus – I think that was the key to winning the match today,” said Eala.

Fresh off her career-breakthrough win in DC in August, Eala looked poised for a fine run in Flushing Meadows as she won the first four games across a dominant opening set, with 11 winners to none from her opponent.

The two traded breaks in a far more competitive second set, where Eala broke her opponent from the baseline in the seventh game before slamming her foot on the gas and clinching it with an unreturnable serve to the delight of the crowd, as the flag of the Philippines dotted the stands.

The first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level match was urged on by her compatriots at Louis Armstrong Stadium, where signs in Tagalog urged her to fight on.

“I think we all represent something. I’m proud of what I represent,” said Eala. REUTERS, AFP