US OPEN – New York. By Leo Canaparo. Photo courtesy U S Open
Coco Gauff continues to give the New York crowd plenty to believe in The American star delivered a strong performance on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, defeating Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6(5) to move into the third round of the US Open.
It was not an easy victory. Badosa, a former World No. 2 whose current ranking does not reflect her true level when healthy, came into the match with a history of success against Gauff and once again proved to be a dangerous opponent. But under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff showed the maturity, determination and competitive strength that make her one of the leading candidates for the title.
The first set was decided by small margins. Gauff managed the crucial break and protected her advantage to take the opening set 6-4. The second set was even more dramatic, with Badosa fighting back and refusing to allow the American to run away with the match.
The Spaniard pushed Gauff all the way to a tiebreak, but the American remained composed during the decisive moments and eventually closed out the victory after nearly two hours of high-level tennis. More importantly, Gauff once again demonstrated why she must be considered one of the major threats in the women’s draw.
At just 22 years old, she already has the experience of winning the US Open, having captured the title in New York in 2023. She also knows what it takes to compete on the biggest stages, and her combination of athleticism, power, speed and growing maturity makes her one of the most complete players in the game. But there is another factor that could become extremely important during the second week of the tournament: the crowd.
There may be many great players in the women’s draw, but no one receives the kind of emotional support that Gauff enjoys in New York. Arthur Ashe Stadium was firmly behind her against Badosa, and every important point seemed to bring another wave of energy from the stands.
Gauff is not simply an American player competing at her home Grand Slam. She has become the face that the New York public wants to follow, the player capable of creating an emotional connection with the fans every time she walks onto the court.
That support does not win matches by itself, but in a tournament where the pressure becomes greater with every round, playing in front of thousands of fans who believe in you can become a powerful advantage.
And Gauff certainly has the game to take advantage of it.
Her potential remains enormous. When her serve is working and she finds consistency from the baseline, her athletic ability allows her to defend points that seem impossible and then immediately turn defense into attack. She has the physical strength to survive long matches and the personality to embrace the pressure of playing at home.
The victory over Badosa was another important step, especially because it came against an opponent capable of causing serious problems.
Gauff was tested. She was pushed. And she found a way to win in straight sets.That could be an important sign for what is coming next.
The US Open is still a long road, and the women’s draw remains filled with dangerous opponents. But Coco Gauff has something that few players can match in New York: the experience of having already won this tournament, the talent to beat anyone on her best day, and the unconditional support of an entire stadium.
With every victory, the dream of another US Open title becomes more realistic. And if Coco Gauff continues to build momentum, there is little doubt about one thing: she will have the loudest support in New York all the way through.
Coco Gauff is once again moving forward at the US Open — and with her talent, her potential and the incredible backing of the home crowd, the possibility of seeing her lift the trophy in Arthur Ashe Stadium once again is very much alive.