Gauff eliminates Jovic 6-1, 6-4 to make US Open quarterfinal

In an all-American battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, a teenager and a tour veteran at twenty-two went toe to toe in a hard-hitting, electric match. Coco Gauff, the world #4 and 2023 US Open champion, had not dropped a set in three matches.

Iva Jovic, 18, was competing in her third US Open main draw and her first as a seed. She is currently ranked and seeded fourteenth. She progressed to the third round without the loss of a set but needed a decider along with physical and mental stamina to dispatch world #17 Alexandra Eala.

Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, had not progressed beyond the 4th round in the past two years. This was their second tour-level meeting, having played this past May on the dirt in Rome. Although Gauff prevailed in the Eternal City in three, Jovic held match point.

(AP)

Gauff won the toss and chose to serve. She donated four unforced errors, including a double fault to dump serve while Jovic gifted a double fault and gave back the break with four additional unforced errors.

Gauff committed two consecutive forehand errors and faced deuce but held for 2-1 while Jovic ripped a backhand down the line to open the fourth but dropped serve with three errors off the ground.

Gauff hit two outstanding groundstroke winners and held to 15 to consolidate the break for 4-1 while Jovic donated three additional unforced errors to dump serve. The world #4 served for the set and opened with two consecutive winners, including an ace up the tee, and clinched it when Jovic missed wide with a crosscourt forehand.

The teen left the court following the conclusion of the opening set. She served first in the second and with new balls. She opened with two consecutive errors, faced deuce and break point but held with two spectacular groundstroke winners. Gauff also opened with two consecutive unforced errors yet held to 30 to level.

With the packed stadium crowd showering both with cheers and applause, Jovic knew she needed to make adjustments. After netting a slew of makeable shots, she began moving forward to finish points at the net. Though she missed five consecutive first serves and faced three deuce and two break points, she held for 2-1 with two consecutive winning forehand volleys.

The two-time Grand Slam champion was unfazed as she held to love with an ace up the tee. With the pressure mounting, Jovic missed 4/8 first serves, faced deuce and two break points, and dropped serve with an errant backhand volley.

Gauff, seemingly in the driver’s seat, gifted two consecutive forehand errors and, with another, gave back the break. Level at three, Jovic appeared energized. She struck an extraordinary forehand down the line pass to lead 4-3.

Gauff missed 5/6 first serves, including another double fault, yet held to 30 courtesy of three consecutive mishit returns from her opponent. Jovic was broken at love following four consecutive unforced errors.

The 2023 US champion served for a coveted spot in the final eight. While Jovic hit an amazing volley winner on the opening point, Gauff struck three exceptional winners, including a serve-and-volley play on match point to secure victory.

It was an inspired performance from Gauff. She expertly managed the occasion and her opponent. She finished with 2 aces, 2 double faults, and won 66% of first and 58% of second serve points. She was similarly effective when returning, winning  58% of first and 52% of second serve return points. She converted 5/11 break points while saving 0/2.

She has reached the quarterfinals for the first time since winning the title in 2023. Her opponent is the reigning French Open champion, Mirra Andreeva. Gauff, once the teen prodigy, is now playing two back-to-back.

Andreeva has looked sharp this fortnight but is 0-5 in the head-to-head. All five have been at the elite level: two at the Slams and three at the WTA 1000 level. World #4 vs #5 is one not to be missed.