Coco Gauff ends Iva Jovic's dream run, sets up quarter-final with Meera Andreeva

Coco Gauff continued her US Open title bid by ending Iva Jovic's breakthrough run in straight sets. Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva also advanced to the quarter-finals.Coco Gauff reaches US Open 2026 quarter-finals. (Reuters Photo)Coco Gauff ended Iva Jovic's dream run at the US Open on Monday, powering past her fellow American 6-1, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the quarter-finals.Jovic had made the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in New York, capping a breakthrough run with a three-set victory over Alexandra Eala in the previous round. But the 18-year-old could not produce another upset against the fourth-seeded Gauff, who stayed on course for a second US Open title and a third Grand Slam crown.The two Americans exchanged early breaks before Gauff settled into the contest. Once she found her rhythm, the 2023 champion took control, breaking Jovic twice more to wrap up the opening set in just over 30 minutes.Jovic looked more comfortable in the second set and managed to hold serve twice before finally getting a break of her own. For a brief period, it appeared the teenager had shifted the momentum. Gauff, however, responded immediately. Jovic's errors returned at a crucial stage and she dropped serve again, allowing Gauff to close out the match without any further trouble.Jovic finished the contest with 30 unforced errors against just nine winners, bringing an impressive first run into the second week of a Grand Slam to an end. Gauff will face Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals, setting up a meeting between the last two French Open champions.RYBAKINA BEATS STRUGGLING OSAKASecond seed Elena Rybakina kept her bid for a third Grand Slam title alive with a 6-1, 6-4 win over former US Open champion Naomi Osaka.Osaka was still dealing with an Achilles tendon injury that had flared up during her previous-round victory, and she was unable to keep pace with Rybakina.The win also moved Rybakina to within one victory of becoming world number one for the first time. She will meet Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals.Zheng once again found a way through despite a difficult start.The Chinese star had recovered from a 0-5 deficit in the deciding set against Madison Keys in the third round. Against 2022 champion Iga Swiatek, she found herself in another hole after losing the first five games in just 20 minutes.But Zheng refused to let the match slip away. She fought back to level the contest and eventually sealed the win on her fourth match point, dropping to the court and covering her face with her hands in celebration.The victory made Zheng the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the women's singles quarter-finals at the US Open. She is also continuing her campaign while managing a chronic elbow injury.Andreeva booked her place in the last eight after a dramatic 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Potapova.The match ended on a disappointing note, with Potapova suffering an injury in the final game. The Austrian returned to the court and tried to continue, but Andreeva completed the victory with a backhand winner.The Russian then went across the net to embrace her injured opponent as her own quarter-final place was confirmed.- EndsPublished By: Kingshuk KusariPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 08:44 IST