The shot Coco Gauff made during her win over Ajla Tomljanovic that took ‘nerves of steel’

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Coco Gauff was made to work hard for her place in the second round of the 2025 US Open.

Travelling to New York as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Gauff was expected to breeze through her opening few matches.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic had other ideas, pushing the world number three close on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Eventually, Gauff defeated Tomljanovic in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, securing her spot in round two of the US Open.

Reacting to the 21-year-old’s thrilling win, a former WTA star couldn’t help but focus on one shot Gauff made during the latter stages of the match.

Laura Robson says Coco Gauff had ‘nerves of steel’ hitting her second serve at 30-30 in the final game

Two points away from victory, Gauff hit her first serve into the net at 6-4, 6-7, 6-5 (30-30).

With so much on the line, the American hit a thunderous second serve, earning herself a match point after two hours and 57 minutes of action.

Converting, Gauff can now look back on that second serve with pride, as former British tennis star Laura Robson was noticeably impressed on Sky Sports.

“That second serve, wow. That was nerves of steel,” she said.

Robson wasn’t the only one impressed, as Gauff’s fellow American, Lindsay Davenport, shared her thoughts on the ‘clutch’ serve.

“What a finish from [Coco] Gauff, able to get through that one, a clutch second serve at 30-30 in that last game,” she said.

“Just under three-hour battle, and Gauff figures it out, 59 unforced errors, but she fought her way through this.

“Was up in the second, wasn’t able to close it out. Was up in the third and got back to even, but finished with a flurry, and Ajla Tomljanovic leaves this court to many applause from the fans here.”

A lot has been made of Gauff’s serve recently, as she struggled with a high number of double faults during the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open.

Making 23 double faults against Danielle Collins in Montreal sent alarm bells ringing in her camp, as Gauff hired biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan soon after.

Reacting to training footage, Rick Macci claimed MacMillan had already improved Gauff’s serve after just a few days.

Picking up their first win together, it will be interesting to see if Gauff and MacMillan can push on from here and form a memorable partnership.

Coco Gauff’s route to the 2025 US Open title

Gauff certainly didn’t have an easy time of things in round one, but she will be more than aware of the challenges that will await her en route to a potential second US Open title.

Assuming the highest-ranked players advance, the American could have to beat Karolina Muchova, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows.

She won’t want to concern herself with hypothetical quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matchups just yet, however, as she first focuses on the second round.

Gauff will play Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the second round of the 2025 US Open on Thursday, August 28.