Coco Gauff booked her place in the fourth round of the US Open after earning her most convincing win of the tournament so far.
After coming through a pair of difficult tests in her first two matches against Ajla Tomljanovic and Donna Vekic, Gauff defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets to advance in New York.
The victory marked her third triumph under the wing of new coach, Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist who has implemented a new service motion into the American’s game.
Gauff‘s next test comes in the form of Naomi Osaka, who herself has recently made a switch-up in her coaching team.
Osaka parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou and appointed Tomasz Wiktorowski, with whom she reached the final of the Canadian Open, and looks to be playing her best tennis in years.
It will be a tough assignment for Gauff, whose last meeting with the Japanese star at the US Open came six years ago.
Coco Gauff’s last US Open meeting with Naomi Osaka
In 2019, Osaka kicked off her title defence at Flushing Meadows with two victories over Anna Blinkova and Magda Linette.
She had picked up a maiden Grand Slam title the year prior after overcoming 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the final.
Her third-round opponent was then-15-year-old Gauff, who was already competing in her second Grand Slam event, following an incredible Wimbledon campaign in which she defeated Venus Williams.
Though the young US star had enjoyed a great start at the competition with two wins of her own, she could not find an answer for Osaka.
The champion put on a dominant display, winning 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the fourth round, where she ultimately fell to Belinda Bencic.
Gauff, who was brought to tears after the match, was consoled by Osaka at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Coco Gauff’s results against Naomi Osaka since the 2019 US Open
Since their clash at the US Open in 2019, the world number three has enjoyed a winning record against the four-time Grand Slam champion.
In their next bout at the Australian Open in 2020, she won in straight sets to make her way into the fourth round.
Gauff suffered a defeat to Osaka at the Cincinnati Open in 2021, but came out on top in their most recent matches.
She won their faceoff in San Jose in 2022, and in Beijing last season, she advanced via walkover.
With a place in the US Open quarterfinal now up for grabs, Gauff will look to add another win over Osaka to her tally in pursuit of a third major title.
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