Coco Gauff surges to second US Open quarterfinal, survives Caroline Wozniacki challenge

FLASHBACK: Gauff's biggest moment of the summer came in Cincinnati when she shocked world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in three sets.

NEW YORK—Coco Gauff left all of her improvements on the court against newly-unretired Caroline Wozniacki, surviving the former world No. 1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the US Open quarterfinals for a second straight year.

Wozniacki was playing at the US Open for the first time since 2019 after leaving the tour to start a family with husband David Lee, giving birth to two children, and though she pushed Gauff to the brink, the No. 6 seed held firm and edged over the finish line in just under two hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"She's a player that I feel like banks on your mistakes," Gauff said after the match. "Also you can't really hit the ball too short. She's going to be aggressive as well. So it's really difficult finding that balance."

Though Gauff and Wozniacki have been two of the last decade’s most memorable players, the two never met for an official match as the former was only 15 years old when the latter first hung up her racquets following the 2020 Australian Open. In the years Wozniacki spent effectively on maternity leave, Gauff became a household name, reaching her first Grand Slam final at 2022 Roland Garros and cracking the Top 10.

"I know she probably has the reputation back then for being kind of a counter-puncher, playing back," said Gauff. "I think today she was doing a little bit of that, but I also think she was playing more aggressive. I think she was hitting her forehand down the line really well. It caught me in some moments, probably something I wasn't expecting.

"Usually with most players I know that I can outlast them. Today I was confident that I could against her, but it was definitely, like, I don't know. The beginning you're thinking she's coming back, maybe she'll get tired. I didn't feel that at all."

I mean, being an American playing here, they're backing you. So, yeah, they backed me today a lot. Had some chants going on in the stadium, which was really nice. Day and night, they're still really energetic. Obviously the night sessions are I think even more electric. But the crowd doesn't really compare to any of the other slams. Coco Gauff on the US Open crowd

But it wasn’t until this summer, around when Wozniacki made her return to action at the Omnium Banque Nationale, that Gauff began looking like a Grand Slam contender. Buoyed by a new coaching team featuring Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert, the 19-year-old surged to her first WTA 1000 title at the Western & Southern Open with a statement victory over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.

Arriving to the US Open with plenty of momentum—and attracting celebrities from Jimmy Butler and Kevin Garnett to the Obamas—the American nonetheless struggled for rhythm in two of her first three matches, dropping the opening set to both Laura Siegemund and Elise Mertens before rallying to win in three.

Wozniacki, by contrast, was looking stronger with each victory in Flushing Meadows after going just 1-2 in the first two tournaments of her comeback. A two-time finalist at the US Open, she shocked No. 11 seed longtime rival Petra Kvitova before outlasting a similarly resurgent Jennifer Brady to earn her best major result since 2018 Roland Garros.

Capitalizing on an ostensibly slow start from Gauff, Wozniacki eased through the first two games only to find herself quickly overwhelmed by the No. 6 seed’s combination of power and athleticism. Though she nearly struck famed film director Spike Lee with an overhead, Gauff nonetheless scored six of the next seven games to sweep the opening set.

Wozniacki continued pressing early in the second set, engineering seven break points through Gauff’s first four service games. Her persistence paid off on the seventh, with the former world No. 1 nailing a passing shot that sent the teenager into the splits. Wozniacki sailed to a decider from there, seamlessly serving for the set while Gauff spraying numerous errors into the net.

A frustrated Gauff continued her off-kilter form early in the final set, netting another backhand to hand Wozniacki a fourth straight game. Despite advice from Gilbert to play longer points, Gauff amped up her aggressive from there. Hitting through her frustration, she reeled off the next four games, breaking twice and saving a break point on her own serve with a thrilling rally.

"I think he was really trying to tell me to go for less, but also at the same time I watched her play so many years," said Gauff. "I didn't want to play into that game where I was not pushing but not playing the game that I like to play.

"It was just finding the balance between playing the longer points. I really think he wanted me to take less risk. There's even a couple times in that first set on her service game where I made some silly—not silly errors, but bad errors. I wasn't really trying to end the point. I was just trying to be aggressive."

I think Coco over the last month and a half, ever since after I think Wimbledon, I think she's not scared to hit through her forehand, which she has been in the past. I think she's getting more depth on it and a little bit more rotation. I think that's why she's obviously winning more on a consistent basis. I think she's always been a great athlete, she's always had the backhand, the serve, the fighting spirit. I feel like right now it's all kind of coming together for her. Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki’s own frustration began to boil over from there, repeatedly asking umpire Louise Azemar Engzell for the Ashe stadium lights to be turned on as she prepared to serve two games from defeat.

"I think I'm exactly where I want to be," a more optimistic Wozniacki said in press. "There's still a few things that I want to work on and I can do better. But in general I think it's very positive. I think every event that I played, I played a little better. Every match I played here, I played a little bit better each time. A lot of positives I can bring with me.

"Obviously I think my experience makes me believe that even if I'm not playing week in, week out, that I can still go out there and play my best tennis when I'm out there on court."

Gauff was undeterred, completing her perfect run through the match's conclusion, winning her sixth game in a row with one last approach to net, forcing a Wozniacki backhand wide.

In all, Gauff struck 33 winners to 44 unforced error and converted an impressive five of seven break point opportunities. Wozniacki's 14 winners were undone by 27 unforced errors, and though she covered more ground, she too often ceded the net to Gauff, who approached the net 27 times, winning 20 of those points.

Awaiting the American in the quarterfinals will be the winner of another intriguing round of 16 clash between top-seeded Swiatek and 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, who has beaten Swiatek in all three of their previous meetings.