Coco Gauff faced a stern examination from Spain's Paula Badosa before ultimately prevailing 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). The American, seeded fourth and fresh off her 2023 US Open triumph, moved one step closer 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.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Court, Gauff enjoyed the vocal support of a partisan crowd and harbored ambitions of adding a third Grand Slam crown to her résumé. Despite a ranking gap—Badosa sits at world No. 87—the Spaniard entered the encounter with a winning head‑to‑head record against the American, having taken the last two meetings, including a straight‑sets victory in the first round of the Australian Open last year and a recent win on the grass courts of Berlin. Early in the first set Badosa pressed forward, creating pressure and forcing Gauff to fend off two break points.
A pivotal moment arrived when Badosa mishit a forehand, a mistake that seemed to unsettle her both mentally and technically. Gauff seized the opportunity, breaking serve and eventually closing out the opening set to claim the lead.
The second set proved equally dramatic. Both competitors exchanged breaks twice, turning the set into a seesaw battle that demanded a tiebreak. Badosa raised her intensity, searching for a foothold to swing the momentum back in her favor.
The tiebreak followed a familiar script: after a series of long rallies, Badosa struck a deep ball that Gauff returned with a decisive winner, prompting an exuberant celebration from the American. That point sealed the tiebreak and the match, allowing Gauff to advance.
After the victory, the 22‑year‑old reflected on the challenge, saying, "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." She added, "I saw the draw. Definitely not someone you want to play in the second round—former world No.
2, great competitor. I think I need matches like this to build my confidence. I'm happy with how I managed today, even though 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 win over Germany's Eva Lys. The 19‑year‑old now awaits 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 addressed lingering fitness concerns after withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open, noting, "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 day, however, belonged to Alexander Zverev, who survived another harrowing scare by edging Quentin Halys in a marathon five‑set encounter that did not conclude until 2:15 a.m. local time (7:15 a.m. UK time).
Zverev, the top seed, had already been pushed to the brink by Lorenzo Sonego in the first round and faced a similar test against Halys, surrendering a two‑set lead twice on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Ultimately, he prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 after more than four and a half hours of grueling tennis, earning a third‑round meeting with Alejandro Tabilo. By doing so, Zverev became the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era (since 1968) to begin a major with back‑to‑back five‑set matches.
In his post‑match interview he was candid, stating, "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 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." The tournament also witnessed a generational shift as young American Tien Learner ended Gael Monfils' Grand Slam run. The 20‑year‑old defeated the 40‑year‑old French veteran 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, securing his place in the third round.
Monfils, who had celebrated his birthday with a first‑round win over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, appeared fatigued in the closing stages of the opening set and turned to the crowd for encouragement. Nonetheless, the 14th seed Tien remained composed, tightening his grip on the match and dictating play throughout.
After taking the first set, Tien continued to absorb Monfils' bursts of aggression in the second, eventually breaking serve to seal the set and move closer to a showdown with Czech Jakub Mensik. Monfils launched a final, emotion‑filled charge in the third set, displaying his trademark shot‑making, but Tien held firm, clinching the victory and embracing the French showman, who has announced his retirement at the end of the year. These narratives underscore the unpredictable drama of the US Open, where seasoned champions and rising talents alike navigate intense physical and mental battles. The tournament continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports App, and the Laver Cup will be shown from The O2 in London between September 25‑27.