Coco Gauff edges Paula Badosa in tense second-round thriller

Coco Gauff held off Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6(5) to reach the US Open third round. The hard-fought win kept the 2023 champion's campaign alive after a stern test under the Arthur Ashe lights.Badosa twice fought off break chances before Gauff forced a tiebreak and edged it. (Photo: Reuters)Coco Gauff survived a gripping battle with Paula Badosa to reach the third round of the US Open, edging the Spaniard 6-4, 7-6(5) under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The fourth seed was pushed throughout but found the composure needed to close out a hard-fought victory.The opening set was tightly contested, with neither player able to create much separation in the early stages. Badosa's powerful groundstrokes and precise placement repeatedly troubled Gauff, but the American matched her intensity and kept finding ways to stay in the rallies.WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:The breakthrough finally came at 5-3 when Badosa sent a forehand wide. Gauff then held her serve to take the opening set after 48 minutes, but the match was far from over as Badosa continued to threaten from the baseline.SECOND SET TURNS TENSEGauff struck early in the second set, breaking Badosa after the Spaniard dropped a soft shot into the net. She appeared to be gaining control, but Badosa immediately raised her level and refused to let the fourth seed pull away. At 4-4, Badosa faced triple break point but fought back with successive forehand winners before eventually saving the game. Gauff then had another chance at 5-5, yet Badosa again produced clutch tennis to hold.The drama intensified when Badosa broke at 6-5 after Gauff's attempted drop shot found the net. Serving for the set, however, Badosa could not finish the job as Gauff fought back to force a tiebreak.GAUFF KEEPS HER NERVE Badosa continued to attack in the tiebreak, but Gauff managed to stay ahead when the crucial points arrived. She moved 3-1 up before Badosa responded with a superb drop shot and a forehand winner that levelled the contest.The American ultimately edged the breaker 7-5 to complete the victory and advance to the third round. Badosa's resistance ensured Gauff had to earn every inch of the win, with both players producing an entertaining contest beneath the Arthur Ashe lights.Gauff's victory keeps her US Open campaign alive as she looks to build on her previous success at Flushing Meadows. The 2023 champion will now prepare for her third-round opponent after another demanding test in New York.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 4, 2026 07:14 IST