At the start of her third-round match against Elina Svitolina at the 2024 US Open, it looked like Coco Gauff was in trouble. Then, midway through the second set, Gauff flipped a switch and stormed back, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reaching the fourth round.
Gauff got off to a painfully slow start at Flushing Meadows on Friday. The No. 27 seed Svitolina came out with No. 3 seed Gauff on her heels after winning the first set 6-3 thanks to a late break point. The second set didn't start much better for Gauff as she was down 1-2.
However, in the fourth game, Gauff finally managed to gain a foothold. At one point, Gauff won nine out of eleven games and took complete control of the game. After winning the second set 6:3, Gauff achieved another 6:3 victory in the decisive third set, which he ended with a break.
It was an impressive comeback for Gauff, who is no stranger to major events. Since 2019, she has now won 12 Grand Slam matches after losing the first set. Only Ons Jabeur has more to offer during this time.
After the match, Gauff said the key to this comeback was attacking with the forehand and cleaning up with the backhand.
“I tried to be more aggressive with the forehand and make fewer mistakes with the backhand,” said Gauff.
This victory also placed Gauff in elite company. Gauff joined Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chris Evert and Tracy Austin as the only women to reach 60 wins before the age of 21.
Gauff will now face her American compatriot Emma Navarro in the round of 16. The two fought at Wimbledon earlier this year, where Navarro caused the big upset in the fourth round.
