Gauff sets up all-American third round against Keys

American Coco Gauff, the No 12 seed, reached the third round of the US Open by winning against Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 7-6 (4) at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Wednesday.

“I knew playing her, I played her at Wimbledon, it was a tough three-set battle, I knew it was going to be another tough battle today”, Gauff reacted. “The set points, I was just saying get the ball on the court. I got lucky. She double-faulted on one of them. Other than that I’m super happy with my performance.”

Gauff, ranked No 12, will face American Madison Keys, the No 20 seed, next, in an all-American clash. Keys defeated Gauff 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in Adelaide earlier this year. But Gauff, runner-up at Roland-Garros this year, thinks she’s a much better player.

In the beginning of the year I feel like in general, I wasn’t in a good head space, I wasn’t confident in my tennis. I feel like now I’m really confident in my tennis.

Cori Gauff

“I think the challenge will be just being aggressive” Gauff added. “She’s an aggressive player, so I feel like I need to take my chances when I can. I learned a lot from that match. In the beginning of the year I feel like in general, I wasn’t in a good head space, I wasn’t confident in my tennis. I feel like now I’m really confident in my tennis.”

 “I think my serve is a lot better. I’m winning a lot of first-serve points. Forehand has improved a lot. Return has improved. Also just my mentality on the court. Today down Love-30, 5-3, definitely could have threw it in the can and got ready for the third set. Same at 15-40. But I didn’t. I feel like that shows growth. I feel like in the past, those are games I would have lost. Yeah, it’s about learning, and I think I’m learning.”

The 18-year-old American defeated French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean (6-2, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous round of Flushing Meadows, Ruse, ranked No 101, edged out Australian Daria Saville (3-6, 6-2, 6-4).

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US Open, other second-round results:

• Dalma Galfi beat Harriet Dart: 6-4, 6-0
• Veronika Kudermetova (18) beat Maryna Zanevska: 6-2, 6-3
• Rebecca Marino beat Daria Snigur (Q): 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Madison Keys beat Camila Giorgi: 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (6)
• Shuai Zhang beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova: 7-5, 6-1
• Alison Riske-Amritraj (29) beat Camila Osorio: 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5)
• Ons Jabeur (5) beat Elizabeth Mandlik (WC): 7-5, 6-2
• Xiyu Wang beat Maria Sakkari (3): 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
• Shelby Rogers (31) beat Viktoria Kuzmova (Q): 7-5, 6-1