American youngster Coco Gauff utilized her formidable ability to overcome a deficit in the second set and clinch an exciting 7-5 7-5 victory against the Chinese’s Zhang Shuai to reach the quarterfinals in the U.S. Open for the first time.
As Serena Williams’ loss on Friday night likely signalling the closing of her professional career American players are looking forward to seeing a new player succeed her and many have placed their hopes on the friendly Gauff, a hard-working Gauff.
“It feels insane,” Gauff admitted in an on-court interview following the victory to set the stage for a showdown against the enthralling Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia on Tuesday.
I was trying to remain in the moment. However, in my mind I had a smile.
In a contest between the smallest player at the end of the draw 18-year-old Gauff and the most senior one, 33-year-old Zhang and Zhang, it was Zhang, the Chinese player who appeared more sharp in the first set with an early 2-0 lead in the opening set.
However, 12th seed Gauff maintained her composure to come back and hit a double-handed backhand to win the opening set and attract the cheers of the crowd.
Zhang the human backboard content that extends rallies off the baseline, snatched an advantage of 5-3 in the second game when she broke Gauff by a backhand win that she had created.
Gauff once again displayed maturity that was beyond her years by winning the final four games, highlighted by an electrifying moment in the final game , where she demonstrated her incredible speed to glide from corner to corner in order to make an excuse for Zhang.
The crowd roared with delight following the event, and Zhang shut her ears, blocking the noise, which increased due to the roof being closed at Arthur Ashe Stadium due to the rain.
Gauff concluded the two-hour match on an error made by Zhang and they were able to hug each other on the net.
After winning Gauff is now the youngest U.S.
Fans are expected to be back when she faces the fiery 17th seed Garcia in the quarterfinals following she beat Alison Riske Amritraj 6-1, 6-4.
