Coco Gauff won a battle of teenagers on Wednesday to reach the third round of the US Open as she beat Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 and extended her current win streak to seven matches.
The 19-year-old American – a former prodigy – eliminated Andreeva, 16 – a current tip – and youngest player in the draw, after 76 minutes on the showcase Ashe court.
,Andreeva made a Wimbledon breakthrough last month, emerging from qualifying and going as far as the fourth round where she lost to Madison Keys.
Sixth seed Gauff reached the quarter-finals at her home major in 2022 and has won a pair of hardcourt titles in recent August weeks at Washington and Cincinnati.
The Floridian struck 24 winners to just seven for her opponent and broke Andreeva four times from five chances.
“I’m really happy with how I played,” the winner said. “Last time I played her, we had a longer match.
“So today I was really trying to take advantage when I was in the lead and continuing to be aggressive.
“I’m happy I was able to get it in straight sets – not a long (three-hour) match like the last match. I saved myself some time today.”
Top seeded defending champion Iga Swiatek overcame a first set riddled with five breaks of serve to consolidate and defeat Australian Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4 in 94 minutes.
The Pole needs to go one round further than rival Aryna Sabalenka to keep the top ranking when the event ends next weekend.
“I just felt like I kind of prevailed, because that match wasn’t easy,” Swiatek said. “I’m just happy to be in the third round.
“For sure I want to improve some stuff, because I did some unforced errors.
“I made some mistakes because you risk a little bit more (against her). She was using most of my power to get these balls back.
“I’m just happy at the end that I was the one that won.”
2019 semi-finalist Belinda Bencic ended the dream for British qualifier Yuriko Lily Miyazaki 6-3, 6-3, sending the No. 198 out in her second match here.
The Japan born youngster never had a chance to attempt to become the second Emma Raducanu, who won the event in 2021 from a qualifying start.
Tenth-seeded Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova prevailed 6-3, 6-3 over Pole Magdalena Frech. Experienced Swiss Bencic broke four times in her 90-minute victory, taking advantage of 26 unforced errors from her opponent.
Taylor Townsend made a return to the third round at a major for the first time in four years as the American mother eliminated Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, 7-6 (1), 7-5.
Last season’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins committed nearly 50 unforced errors as she went down 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1 to Belgian Elise Mertens,
Collins has not been past the third round of a major since her 2022 showing in Melbourne.
Mertens needed two and three-quarter hours to advance, saving two match points as she reached a Grand Slam third round for the 22nd time in her career..
