Coco Gauff faced a formidable opponent in Spain's Paula Badosa before ultimately prevailing with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win. The American, seeded fourth and fresh off her 2023 US Open triumph, advanced to the third round where she will meet fellow Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
The match unfolded on a hot evening that stood in stark contrast to the rain-soaked conditions of the tournament's opening days. Gauff stepped onto Arthur Ashe Court buoyed by a supportive crowd and the lingering ambition of adding a third Grand Slam title to her résumé. Badosa, ranked 87th in the world, entered the contest with a psychological edge: she held a winning record against Gauff, having defeated the American in their two most recent meetings—a straight‑sets victory at the Australian Open first round last year and a win on the grass courts of Berlin earlier this summer. Despite the ranking gap, Badosa made an aggressive start, forcing Gauff to fend off two break points early in the first set.
A crucial break came when Badosa committed an unforced forehand error that seemed to shake her confidence, allowing Gauff to close out the opening set and take the lead. The second set proved equally dramatic.
Both players exchanged service breaks twice, pushing the contest to a tiebreak. Badosa raised her level, searching for a foothold, but the tiebreak followed a familiar pattern: after a series of long rallies, Badosa hit a deep shot that Gauff chased down, then celebrated exuberantly as she secured the decisive point and the match.
"Paula is a tough player. I felt like I had the lead but there wasn't much I did wrong. She stepped it up. I'm really happy to be through today," the 22‑year‑old said on court.
She added, "I saw the draw. Definitely not someone you want to play in the second round. Former number two in the world, great competitor. I think I need matches like this to build my confidence.
I'm happy with how I managed today. There was a bit of nerves." Elsewhere at the tournament, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva breezed into the third round with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Germany's Eva Lys. The 19‑year‑old will now face Czech Nikola Bartunkova.
World No. 2 Elena Rybakina also cruised past Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, winning 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, "It wasn't perfect preparation at all. I was a bit upset watching everybody practice, but I focused on recovery and gym work. I'm super happy to be here." The headline of the night, however, belonged to Alexander Zverev, who survived a harrowing five‑set battle that stretched into the early hours of the morning. The top seed had already endured a grueling opening‑round match against Lorenzo Sonego before facing fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys.
Zverev found himself in a familiar predicament, surrendering a two‑set lead twice on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Ultimately, he edged out Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-3 after more than four and a half hours of play, with the final point recorded at 2:15 a.m.
local time (7:15 a.m. UK time). This victory booked him a third‑round encounter with Alejandro Tabilo and made Zverev the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era to begin a major with back‑to‑back five‑set matches. Reflecting on his performance, Zverev was blunt: "The performance was quite s***, to be honest.
But I won, and that's the most important thing. I've been here for another four and a half hours. That's what I go to the gym for, that's what I go to the track for and that's what I train for, to be able to come out on top in these difficult moments.
When you're not playing your best, when you're not hitting winners left and right, just getting through these matches. I hope at some point I'll start playing better but, for now, I'm happy to be in the third round." In another generational showdown, young American Tien Learner halted the Grand Slam career of veteran Gael Monfils. The 20‑year‑old secured a straight‑sets victory, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, advancing to the third round where he will meet Czech Jakub Mensik. Monfils, who celebrated his 40th birthday with a first‑round win over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, appeared fatigued in the later stages of the opening set and turned to the crowd for encouragement.
Tien, however, remained composed, tightening his grip on the match and dictating play throughout. After taking the first set, Tien absorbed Monfils' bursts of aggression in the second, eventually sealing the set and the match. Monfils launched a final, emotion‑fuelled charge in the third, showcasing his trademark shot‑making, but Tien held firm, embraced the French showman warmly, and prepared for his next challenge. Monfils has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year.
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, offering viewers contract‑free access. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for 25‑27 September, which will be shown live on Sky Sports as well.