Coco Gauff faced a formidable challenge from Spain's Paula Badosa before ultimately clinching a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) triumph. The American, seeded fourth and fresh off her 2023 US Open victory, moved one step closer to the third round where she will meet fellow Spaniard Cristina Bucsa. The match unfolded on a sweltering evening that stood in stark contrast to the rain‑soaked opening days of the tournament.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Court, Gauff enjoyed the vocal support of a partisan crowd and harbored hopes of adding a third Grand Slam title to her résumé. Despite Badosa's world ranking of No. 87, the Spaniard entered the encounter with a psychological edge, having won the last two meetings against Gauff.
Those victories included a straight‑sets win in the first round of the Australian Open last year and a recent triumph on the grass courts of Berlin during the summer swing. Early in the match Badosa pressed hard, creating break opportunities and forcing Gauff to fend off two break points. The turning point arrived when Gauff secured a crucial break after Badosa committed a costly forehand error that seemed to shake her confidence.
Gauff capitalised on the momentum, closed out the first set and took the early lead. The second set proved equally dramatic.
Both competitors exchanged service breaks twice, forcing a tiebreak to decide the set. Badosa raised her intensity, searching for a pathway back into the contest, but the tiebreak followed a familiar script.
A long ball from Badosa set up a decisive shot for Gauff, who erupted in celebration as she sealed the match and booked her place in the next round. After the win, the 22‑year‑old reflected on the difficulty of the opponent, saying, "Paula is a tough player. I felt I had the lead but there wasn’t much I did wrong. She stepped it up.
I'm really happy to be through today." Gauff also commented on the draw, noting that a second‑round clash with a former world No. 2 was exactly the kind of test she needed to build confidence. She admitted to feeling a touch of nerves but expressed satisfaction with how she managed the pressure. In other US Open action, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva breezed into the third round after a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win over Germany's Eva Lys.
The 19‑year‑old will next face Czech Nikola Bartunkova. World No. 2 Elena Rybakina also progressed comfortably, dispatching Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour.
Rybakina, who recently retired from the Cincinnati Open due to fitness concerns, explained that her preparation had been far from ideal but praised her recovery work and expressed happiness to be competing in New York. The men's draw delivered its own drama as top seed Alexander Zverev survived a harrowing five‑set battle that stretched into the early hours of the morning. After a solid opening‑round win over Lorenzo Sonego, Zverev faced fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys in a match that tested his stamina and resolve. Zverev dropped the first set 4-6, recovered to take the second 6-4, and then endured two tightly contested tiebreaks, eventually prevailing 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-3.
The contest lasted more than four and a half hours, finally concluding at 2:15 a.m. local time (7:15 a.m. UK time). With the victory, Zverev secured a third‑round meeting with Alejandro Tabilo and became the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era to begin a major with back‑to‑back five‑set matches.
Speaking after the marathon, Zverev was candid about his performance, describing it as "quite s***" but emphasizing the importance of the win. He highlighted the months of gym work, track training, and mental preparation that enable him to survive such grueling encounters, adding that he hopes to raise his level in future rounds.
On the women's side, young American Tien Learner delivered a generational upset, ending Gael Monfils' Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory. The 20‑year‑old American, playing as a wildcard, capitalised on Monfils' fatigue on a muggy evening.
After Monfils, celebrating his 40th birthday with a first‑round win, appeared drained in the latter stages of the opening set, Tien held steady, absorbing the French veteran's bursts of aggression and securing the set. He maintained his composure through the second set, eventually sealing the match and advancing to face Czech Jakub Mensik in the third round. Monfils, known for his flamboyant shot‑making, made a final, emotion‑filled push in the third set, but Tien's resilience proved decisive.
After the match, Tien embraced the retiring Frenchman, acknowledging his contribution to the sport. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at the O2 in London from September 25‑27, all presented without contractual obligations for viewers seeking flexible access to world‑class tennis.