Coco Gauff faced a stern examination on the Arthur Ashe Court when she met Spain's Paula Badosa, ultimately prevailing 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). The American, seeded fourth and fresh off her 2023 US Open triumph, pushed forward toward the third round where she will encounter 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, and the crowd, largely supportive of the home favorite, cheered her as she continued her quest for a third Grand Slam crown. Despite a significant ranking gap—Badosa sits at world No. 87—she entered the encounter with a psychological edge, having won the last two meetings against Gauff.
Those victories included a straight‑sets win at the Australian Open first round last year and a recent triumph on the grass courts of Berlin during the summer swing. Early in the match Badosa tried to seize the initiative, creating pressure that forced Gauff to fend off two break points. The turning point arrived when Badosa committed a costly forehand error, which seemed to shake her confidence and rhythm.
Gauff capitalized on the mistake, breaking serve and closing out the first set to take a 1-0 lead. The second set unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with both players exchanging breaks twice.
The tension escalated to a tie‑break, where Badosa raised her level in a desperate attempt to claw back into the match. The tie‑break mirrored the set’s drama, but a long, looping shot from Badosa set up Gauff for a jubilant finish. Gauff celebrated the decisive point, securing her place in the next round. After the match, the 22‑year‑old reflected on the experience: "Paula is a tough player.
I felt I had the lead but didn’t do much wrong. She stepped it up.
I’m really happy to be through today." She added, "I saw the draw – definitely not someone you want to meet in the second round. A former world No. 2 and great competitor.
I think I need matches like this to build my confidence. I’m pleased with how I managed today, even though there were a few nerves." Elsewhere in the tournament, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva breezed into the third round with 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, setting up a clash with Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. Rybakina, who recently retired from the Cincinnati Open due to fitness concerns, explained her preparation: "It wasn’t perfect preparation at all. I was a bit upset watching everyone practice for the tournament, but I focused on recovery and gym work. I’m super happy to be here." The headline of the day, however, belonged to Alexander Zverev, who survived a harrowing five‑set marathon that stretched into the early hours of the morning.
After a grueling opening‑round battle with Lorenzo Sonego, Zverev found himself in a similarly precarious position against France’s Quentin Halys. He fell behind twice, surrendering a set lead on each occasion, yet ultimately prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3. The match lasted more than four and a half hours and concluded at 2:15 a.m. local time (7:15 a.m.
UK time), earning Zverev a third‑round meeting with Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. Zverev’s victory marked a historic moment: he became the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era (since 1968) to start a major with back‑to‑back five‑set matches. In his post‑match interview, the German star was candid about his performance, describing it as "quite s***, to be honest," but emphasized the importance of the win: "I won, and that’s the most important thing. I’ve been here for another four and a half hours.
That’s what I train for – to come out on top in these difficult moments. When you’re not hitting winners left and right, just getting through these matches is a victory in itself. I hope at some point I’ll start playing better, but for now I’m happy to be in the third round." The tournament also saw a generational clash as young American Learner Tien ended Gaël Monfils’ Grand Slam run.
Tien, only 20, defeated the 40‑year‑old French veteran 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, securing his own passage to the third round where he will meet Czech Jakub Mensik. Monfils, who had celebrated his 40th birthday with a first‑round win over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, appeared fatigued in the latter stages of the opening set and turned to the crowd for a boost. Tien remained composed, absorbing Monfils’ bursts of aggression and maintaining control throughout the match.
After taking the first set, Tien continued to dictate play in the second, weathering Monfils’ attempts to swing momentum. In the decisive third set, Monfils unleashed a final, emotion‑fuelled surge, showcasing his trademark shot‑making, but Tien stood his ground and sealed the victory.
The young American embraced the French showman warmly after the match, acknowledging Monfils’ impending retirement at the end of the year. Overall, the day highlighted the physical and mental endurance required at the highest level of tennis.
From Gauff’s gritty win over a familiar foe, through Zverev’s marathon that tested his resilience, to Tien’s breakthrough against a seasoned veteran, the US Open continued to deliver drama, surprise, and compelling storylines. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports from August 30, stream without a contract via NOW or the Sky Sports app, and even attend the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, where the competition will be broadcast on Sky Sports as well.