© Simon Bruty/USTA
After winning over Elise Mertens 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the US Open. Next up for sixth seed Gauff is a competition against Caroline Wozniacki. The former leader of WTA ranking eliminated American Jennifer Brady 4-6 6-3 6-1.“When she retired I remember saying that I wish I could have played her.
So that wish came true so I’m really excited”. Gauff said. On Sunday that will be their first career match. “It’s a matchup I never thought I’d have to play” Coco added. Wozniacki retired in 2020 to start a family and returned to the tour last month.
She lost to Varvara Gracheva in Cincinnati and Markets Vondrousova in Montreal. Wozniacki performs in the US Open thanks to a wild card and defeated not only Brady, but also among other Petra Kvitova – world number 11.
Coco Gauff thanked the crowd and waits for Caroline Wozniacki
The age difference between Wozniacki and Gauff is clear.
“I don’t know if it’s a battle of generations. She’s still fit and going strong. I think it’s going to be an exciting match.” Gauff said. She is 19 and her next rival is 33. After the game against Mertens, the teenage star also thanked the audience in New York.
“The energy today definitely helped me. I felt you guys. I played every point my hardest.” Gauff added.“When you lose the first set you know you have to show that you left all that energy in the first set and you’re ready to play…
after I lost the first set I told myself: there is still a lot of game left and a lot of the match to play. Elise was playing well and I tried my best to win in three sets – give me some credit. The last couple of weeks I was winning in straight sets.
So a win is a win – it doesn’t matter how you get it and I’m just happy.” Coco admitted. Coco Gauff is in great form. She recently won her first WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati and defeated first time Iga Swiatek , the current leader of WTA ranking.
Her transformation is related to the change of coach. Brad Gilbert, a former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, has recently become the new American trainer.