World No.3 Coco Gauff drew on deep reserves of mental strength to overcome Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6(5), 6-2, in an error-strewn second-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match proved uncomfortable to watch, as the normally raucous New York crowd fell silent as neither player could establish a consistent rhythm, with errors raining down from both sides.
The first set verged on the farcical, with a combined 16 double faults contributing to a total of 34 unforced errors. With Vekic battling a right-arm issue and Gauff struggling badly on serve, the set featured eight breaks in total.
After clinching the first set in a tie-break, Gauff took a comfort break and returned to the court with renewed composure. She steadied her game while Vekic faltered, handing the American the opening to take control and progress through to the next round.
Breaking down in tears, Gauff spoke on-court after the match, thanking the crowd for their support and revealing in part the struggle that went on in her mind as much as on the court.
“Honestly today was a tough match for me. I was happy with how I was able to manage….it’s been a tough couple of weeks for me but to be back on this court, and you guys give me so much joy. You really helped me a lot. I’m doing this for myself but I’m also doing it for you and no matter how tough it gets inside, you can do it.”
The first set started ominously for the American, who served and moved gingerly, and was broken to 15 via a double fault. Vekic then consolidated to move 2-0 ahead. Gauff soon found temporary rhythm on serve, easing through her next game, before pouncing on a poor service game from the Croat – which included three double faults – to break back to 15 and level the contest.
Gauff then edged ahead with a composed service game before breaking Vekic, who squandered a 40-0 lead as she unravelled once more on serve. Yet, true to the ragged rhythm of the contest, the American followed with a wayward service game of her own, gifting Vekic the break back.
Vekic laboured through her next service game but closed it with a crisp forehand down the line. Gauff, increasingly weighed down by her serve, tossed in two more double faults in another listless game to hand Vekic the break for a 5-4 lead. In keeping with the fractured rhythm of the match, the advantage proved fleeting, and a visibly upset Gauff steadied herself enough to break straight back.
The match was becoming difficult to watch as Gauff grew increasingly emotional. She still couldn’t find any rhythm on serve and conceded a fourth service game, giving Vekic the chance to serve out the first set.
The drama wasn’t over, as Vekic called a medical timeout for discomfort in her right arm. On resumption, the struggling Croat dropped her fourth service game, sending the first set into a tie-break.
The breaker was littered with more serving struggles from both players, but after 65 minutes Gauff closed out a chaotic first set, before heading straight off court to regroup as the Arthur Ashe crowd sat in silent shock at what they just witnessed.
After an opening exchange of holds, Gauff tightened up her groundstrokes and earned the first break of the second set for a 2-1 lead. Despite the lingering inconsistency from both players, they each held serve once more. Gauff then steadied herself, held again, and capitalized on Vekic’s unravelling to claim her second break for a 5-2 lead.
Gauff kept her composure to finally end the anxiety riddled rollercoaster for the players, the crowd, and those watching at home. After earning two match points, she double-faulted the first before moving to the net to close out the win and progress into the third round.
Though Gauff’s performance barely hinted at her best, the ability to mentally reset and push through the match demonstrates the belief that she can go further. She has always been a player who draws admiration for her honesty in assessing her own game, so tennis fans will hope that she can gain belief from this surreal victory and be able to step it up for the next round.
Gauff will play Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the third round.
