
Fourth seed Coco Gauff overcomes Paula Badosa in a tough straight-sets encounter at Flushing Meadows.
Coco Gauff defeated Paula Badosa in straight sets at the US Open second round, showing improved composure and serve to keep her title defense alive at Flushing Meadows.
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Coco Gauff is seeking her second US Open title and faced Paula Badosa in the second round at Flushing Meadows.
A "battle-tested" Coco Gauff showed grit to keep her bid for a second US Open title alive with victory over Paula Badosa in the second round.
Fourth seed Gauff had lost her past two matches against Spanish former world number two Badosa, but showed impressive composure in a tough encounter at Flushing Meadows in New York.
American Gauff was twice a break up in the second set and served for the match at 6-5, only to put a volley into the net to send it to a tie-break.
After a quick yell of "why?" towards her team, Gauff reset and was solid to close out victory on a second match point.
Gauff's improved second serve was on show throughout - she won 57% of points behind it and committed only five double faults.
"I saw the draw - it is definitely not someone you want to play in the second round," Gauff, 22, said.
"But I need matches like this to build my confidence and I'm happy with how I managed today.
"Getting through in straight sets too makes a big difference. Yes, I was battle-tested, but I think it was a good battle where I wasn't out on the court for three hours."
Gauff would need to win the title and hope Elena Rybakina does not reach the semi-finals if she is to become world number one.
Kazakhstani second seed Rybakina claimed a 6-2 6-4 victory over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, meaning the women's top 10 in the WTA rankings have reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 2009.
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