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Coco Gauff defeated fellow American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
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The 22-year-old has yet to drop a set in New York as she targets a second US Open title.
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Gauff will face French Open champion Mirra Andreeva in the last eight.
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Gauff has won all five of her previous meetings with Andreeva.
September 08, (THEWILL) — Coco Gauff continued her pursuit of a second US Open title with a convincing straight-sets victory over fellow American Iva Jovic, overcoming the 18-year-old 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in New York.
Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, survived an early scare before taking control of the all-American contest on a lively Labour Day night at Flushing Meadows.
The 22-year-old initially struggled to settle, double-faulting in the opening game and allowing Jovic to take an early break. But the setback quickly disappeared as Gauff found her rhythm and reeled off six consecutive games to take the first set.
Gauff Takes Control After Early Scare
Jovic showed flashes of the talent that has made her one of the most exciting young players on the American tennis scene, but Gauff’s experience and defensive ability eventually proved decisive.
The teenager held serve at the beginning of the second set and appeared ready to make the contest more competitive. Gauff, however, raised her intensity and produced three outstanding defensive plays during a crucial game to earn the break and move 3-2 ahead.
Jovic responded immediately by breaking back, but Gauff refused to let the momentum shift for long. She broke Jovic again without dropping a point before serving out the match.
After one hour and 33 minutes, Gauff had secured her place in the last eight without losing a set throughout the tournament.
Gauff Praises Jovic After Their First Grand Slam Meeting
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Gauff was quick to acknowledge the quality of her teenage opponent.
“Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent, she plays beyond her years,” Gauff said after the match.
Gauff also admitted that Jovic’s maturity at 18 reminded her of how much she herself had developed since breaking through as a teenager.
The reigning US Open champion reflected on her own experiences at that age, explaining that defeats could feel devastating while victories could produce an equally strong emotional high.
For Gauff, those difficult moments ultimately became valuable lessons, and she believes Jovic can benefit from the same process.
“She’s going to have a lot more fourth rounds and quarter-finals,” Gauff suggested, backing the teenager to learn from the defeat and take her next opportunity when it arrives.
Andreeva Awaits in the Quarter-Finals
Gauff’s reward for reaching the quarter-finals is another major test against Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion.
The American has dominated their previous meetings, winning all five encounters against the 19-year-old.
However, Gauff expects a completely different challenge this time, particularly after Andreeva’s breakthrough Grand Slam triumph.
“She has a different mindset now after winning a Grand Slam,” Gauff said, acknowledging that the Russian could approach their next meeting with increased belief.
Their previous matches have often been tightly contested despite Gauff’s perfect record, leaving little room for complacency as the pair prepare to meet again in New York.
Gauff’s Title Defence Gathers Momentum
With her victory over Jovic, Gauff remains firmly in contention for another US Open crown three years after her breakthrough triumph at Flushing Meadows.
The American has now reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set, giving her an increasingly strong platform as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
But the competition is becoming tougher. The remaining women’s quarter-final line-up also includes defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula against Emma Navarro and Qinwen Zheng against Elena Rybakina.
For Gauff, the immediate focus is Andreeva and the opportunity to extend her perfect record against one of the sport’s rising stars.
A sixth consecutive victory over the French Open champion would send Gauff into the semi-finals and take her one step closer to another memorable US Open run.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
