The athletic Coco Gauff, survived a tough challenge from the oldest, 33-year-old Zhang Shuai of China, 7-5, 7-5, to reach the quarterfinals.
Coco Gauff : vs Zhang Shuai | Quarterfinals | Records
Cori “Coco” Gauff (born March 13, 2004) is an American professional tennis player. She has a career-high ranking of world No. 11 in singles, reached on July 11, 2022, and world No. 1 in doubles, achieved on August 15, 2022.
| Born | March 13, 2004 Atlanta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 2018 |
| Plays | Right-handed (double-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Corey Gauff Jean-Christophe Faurel, Diego Moyano |
Gauff won her first WTA Tour singles title at the 2019 Linz Open aged 15, making her the youngest singles title-holder on the Tour since 2004.
She has won two WTA Tour singles titles and five doubles titles – three partnering with Caty McNally and two with Jessica Pegula.
Gauff rose to prominence with a win over Venus Williams in the opening round at Wimbledon 2019.
Vs Zhang Shuai
Coco Gauff reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time by coming back in each set to beat Zhang Shuai of China 7-5, 7-5 in front of a partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.
The 18-year-old Floridian, the runner-up at the French Open in June, trailed 5-4 in the opening set, then 5-3 in the second, which she was a point from losing.
But buoyed by spectators who cheered her every point, chanted “Let’s go, Coco!” as the end neared and prompted Zhang to cover her ears with her hands, Gauff improved to 4-0 in Ashe this year. She’d never previously won a match at the biggest arena in Grand Slam tennis.
Gauff, who defeated fellow American Madison Keys in the previous round, started the match slowly and nervously, perhaps recognizing the enormity of the opportunity in front of her.
Unusually, it was her more dependable backhand that let her down. Despite being outplayed for much of the first set, down 4-5, Gauff reeled off nine of 12 points and three games in a row to seize the set. The teen pasted a backhand down the line on set point, electrifying the pro-American crowd.
At the start of the second set, heavy rains hit Flushing Meadows and the roof was closed; the lights came on and it became an indoor match.
Both sets featured a series of long, high-velocity crosscourt exchanges, which Gauff got the better of as the match wore on.
Coco gauff quarterfinals
Coco Gauff reached her maiden US Open quarter-final with a straight-set victory over China’s Zhang Shuai.
The American 12th seed, competing at her home Grand Slam, won 7-5 7-5 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Gauff, who is yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this year, will play France’s 17th seed Caroline Garcia in the next round.
“It feels insane,” said the 18-year-old. “Ashe Stadium chanting my name, I was trying not to smile.”
Speaking to Amazon Prime, she said: “It was really physical, it felt like a three-setter.
“I really think my mentality helped me today.
“I’m so happy, being in my home Slam and finally getting to a quarter-final. This tournament has always been special for me, growing up watching it. I’m just so excited to continue to play and experience this atmosphere.”
Records
Gauff made her debut on the ITF Women’s Circuit in May 2018 as a qualifier in the $25K event at Osprey, where she won her first professional match.
| Singles | |
|---|---|
| Career record | 116–58 (66.7%) |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 11 (July 11, 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 12 (August 15, 2022) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 4R (2020) |
| French Open | F (2022) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2019, 2021) |
| US Open | QF (2022) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 80–40 (66.7%) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (August 15, 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 1 (August 15, 2022) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2020, 2021) |
| French Open | F (2022) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2021) |
| US Open | F (2021) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (2022) |
| US Open | 2R (2018) |
Gauff played in one US Open Series tournament at the Washington Open, where she qualified for the main draw but lost in the first round.
Starting the year ranked No. 67, Gauff started 2020 playing at the Auckland Open in New Zealand. In singles she defeated Viktoria Kuzmova before losing to Laura Siegemund in the second round.
Playing doubles with McNally, Gauff reached the semifinals, losing to eventual champions Taylor Townsend and Asia Muhammad.
In February, she reached the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open by defeating Shelby Rogers, Caroline Garcia and third seed Paula Badosa. In the quarterfinals, she lost to sixth seed Maria Sakkari.
And in doubles, she paired with Jessica Pegula to win her first WTA 1000 doubles title, beating fourth seeded pair of Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the final. With the win, she climbed to a career high No. 12 in the doubles rankings on 28 February 2022.
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