US Open 2024 Women’s Day 5

Coco Gauff saved face for US Open organisers on Friday as the American holder avoided the upset fate which has already eliminated a pair of former champions on the eve of a money-spinning holiday weekend.

Gauff managed to reverse losing momentum after 17 first-set unforced errors to defeat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, even after double-faulting away back-to-back match points.

The tournament lost two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the second round along with men’s 2022 winner Carlos Alcaraz less than 24 hours earlier.

The mid-event Labour Day weekend is a lucrative cash-flow period for the venue and the absence of popular drawcards is not good for business.

Gauff solved at least part of the problem as she lifted her game after dropping the first set to Svitolina, with the Ukrainian winning the last 11 points of the set..

Gauff answered in the second, breaking in the sixth game and levelling the match before starting the third with a break.

After failing to serve out victory with three match points, she broke her opponent a game later to move into the event’s second week..

“This win means a lot,” the third seed said. “I knew it would be tough, she’s such a fighter,” the Floridian said.

“I had to bring my best tennis. I played well and served much better – last service game aside.

“I knew what I had to do. I needed to erupt (with a break for 4-2 in the second set), this crowd helped me do that.”

Gauff said that she had to increase her gression level to earn victory.

“In the second set I tried to be more aggressive, especially on the forehand and make less backhand errors.”

Seventh-seeded Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen dispatched Julie Niemeier 6-2, 6-1, winning 15 of her last 16 matches to become the first into the second week. .

The Chinese player who finished runner-up at the Australian Open in January broke her German opponent five times as she moved through in 80 minutes to the fourth round.

“I feel really proud of myself to making the second week because I didn’t have easy opponents,” she said. “I’m really happy that I have been through all the matches and come again here in round of 16.

“I’ve worked a lot on my mental side to keep myself strong, to keep myself hungry to play,” adding that she was momentarily put off by dozens of fans shouting encouragement to her in Chinese.

Zheng lost to Niemeier here in 2022 and admitted she did not want history to repeat itself.

“I remember that match so clearly. I lost against her at midnight,” the winner said. “That match was really painful. 

“I sat for one hour at 3 a.m. crying by myself alone. Today I was really focused because I didn’t want that feeling to happen again to me. 

“I’m glad I’m the winner today so I don’t have to cry.” 

Donna Vekic set up a re-run of the recent Olympic gold medal match with her 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Peyton Stearnes sending her into a match against Zheng.

Wang Yafan, 30, put a second Chinese into the fourth round with her 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 defeat of three-time New York finalist Victoria Azarenka.

“I’m very happy. I knew it would be a very very tough match,” the 80th-ranked winner said.

“Today I was focused on every point because we played three weeks ago (Washington second round) and I lost, 

“I just tried my best and tried to keep going every point. I knew I needed to play very focused in the final set. I think I did good today.”

Former No. 2 Paula Badosa – Wang’s next opponent – erupted in joy after defeating Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) to reach the second week here for the first time.

The New York-born Spaniard who has suffered through long-term back issues, showed she’s back to match fitness in her victory lasting two and a half hours.

The titlewinner this month in Washington saved a Ruse match point late in the third set and took control of the tiebreak third set to earn the win.

“At 5-4 down, match point down (third set), I was mentally destroyed,” the Spaniard said. “It was a tough one. She played an insane level.

“I was even confused, I wasn’t expecting it. At the end it was a high quality match.

“Congrats to her. She’s a great player. She’s proving it now. She has the level to be at the top.”

Emma Navarro duplicated her win this month over Marta Kostyuk in Toronto, defeating the Ukrainian 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. 

Main photo:- Coco Gauff serving to victory by Mark Greenwood, International Sports Fotos Ltd