Coco Gauff faced a formidable challenge from Spain's Paula Badosa, but she ultimately prevailed with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win. The American, seeded fourth and fresh off her 2023 US Open triumph, moved into the third round where she will meet fellow Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
The match took place 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 in front of a supportive crowd, Gauff was determined to keep her quest for a third Grand Slam title alive.
Despite the significant ranking gap—Badosa was ranked No. 87—the Spaniard entered the contest with confidence, having won their last two meetings. She had beaten Gauff in straight sets at the Australian Open the previous year and more recently on the grass courts in Berlin. Early in the match Badosa tried to seize the initiative, creating two break‑point chances that forced Gauff to dig deep.
A crucial break came after Badosa committed an unforced forehand error that seemed to unsettle her mentally and technically. Gauff capitalized on the mistake, closed out the first set and took the early lead.
The second set unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with both players exchanging breaks twice. The deadlock led to a tiebreak, during which Badosa raised her level in an effort to force a comeback. The tiebreak followed a familiar pattern until Badosa hit a long, looping ball that Gauff turned into a point of celebration, ultimately clinching the match and securing her place in the next round.
After the win, the 22‑year‑old reflected on the difficulty of the encounter: "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 were a few nerves." Other notable results from the day included French Open champion Mirra Andreeva breezing into the third round with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Germany's Eva Lys.
The 19‑year‑old will next face Czech Nikola Bartunkova. World No.
2 Elena Rybakina also advanced comfortably, defeating 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, saying, "It wasn’t perfect preparation at all. I was a bit upset watching everyone practice, but I focused on recovery and gym work. I’m super happy to be here." In the men’s draw, top seed Alexander Zverev survived a dramatic, late‑night five‑set battle against Quentin Halys.
After a tough first‑round encounter with Lorenzo Sonego that saw him lose a set lead, Zverev again found himself in a similar situation against Halys. He ultimately triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-3 after more than four and a half hours of play, with the match not concluding until 2:15 am local time (7:15 am UK time). The win booked him a third‑round meeting with Alejandro Tabilo and made Zverev the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era to start a major with back‑to‑back five‑set matches.
Zverev was candid in his post‑match interview, describing his performance as "quite s***, to be honest," but emphasizing the importance of the win: "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 playing your best, when you’re not hitting winners left and right, just getting through these matches is the goal. I hope at some point I’ll start playing better, but for now I’m happy to be in the third round." The day also saw a generational clash as 20‑year‑old American Tien Learner ended Gaël Monfils' Grand Slam run.
Learner defeated the French veteran 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, advancing to the third round. Monfils, celebrating his 40th birthday, had previously rallied past Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in the first round, but the youthful energy of Learner proved too much under the New York lights. After a sluggish start in the first set, Monfils turned to the crowd for encouragement, yet Learner remained composed, securing the opening set and then dictating play in the second, absorbing Monfils' bursts of aggression. In the final set, Monfils launched a last‑ditch, emotion‑fuelled offensive, but Learner held firm, sealing the win and later embracing the retiring French star.
These matches underscore the depth and unpredictability of this year’s US Open, with seasoned champions and rising talents alike delivering high‑stakes tennis. The tournament continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, and viewers can stream matches without a contract via NOW or the Sky Sports app. Additionally, fans can experience the Laver Cup live at the O2 in London from September 25‑27, also covered by Sky Sports.