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The second-round match-up between Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff at the US Open ended in favour of the latter, on Wednesday. Gauff defeated her Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in 76 minutes to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the second straight season.
Earlier this year, at Roland Garros in Paris, Andreeva and Gauff had begun their rivalry as they took on each other for the first time in their career. That time, the 19-year-old Gauff being slightly ahead of her 16-year-old opponent in terms of experience looked to have paved the way for her to reach the subsequent round.
This time around, Gauff’s experience married to the improvements in her tactical strengths helped her to enjoy an easier time against a now-familiar rival. Andreeva didn’t keel over at any point in the match but she was quite overpowered by Gauff’s game.
The latter’s forehand was resistant to errors and she was able to find winners from all parts of the court. Gauff played 18 points at the net and won 15 of these. In comparison, Andreeva, who’d only five net approaches, won only two points.
The sixth seed won 83% of her first-serve points and 62% of her second-serve points. She also won 63% points on return on Andreeva’s serve. Gauff also finished the match with 24 winners to her rival’s seven and had three more unforced errors than the latter’s 13.
Returning as the 2022 quarter-finalist this time at the US Open, Gauff will play 32nd seed Elise Mertens for a chance to reach the second week yet again. The Belgian defeated another American, Danielle Collins in their round-of-64 encounter.
After two hours and 45 minutes and from a set down, Mertens pocketed a 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1 triumph.
US Open: Taylor Townsend's glorious show!
Meanwhile, another of Gauff’s and Collins’ compatriots, Taylor Townsend, made it to the third round.
Townsend upset 19th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in their round-of-64 meeting. After two hours and three minutes of play, Townsend notched a 7-6(1), 7-5 win. Townsend’s variety across the match helped her emerge as the victor in the all-southpaw clash.
Haddad Maia’s determination to keep pushing at Townsend saw her take the opening set into the tie-break and then, come from a break down in the second. However, across each set, in their respective business ends, it was Townsend who ended up outplaying her higher-ranked opponent.
Haddad Maia converted the lone break point that headed her way in the match. But she also saved five of the seven break points she faced. Incidentally, the only two times she lost her serve in the match, came in the second set.
The American had 31 winners for the match. Her opponent finished the day with 18. The Brazilian also had six fewer unforced errors than Townsend’s 35. Either 10th seed Karolina Muchova or Magdalena Frech will be Townsend’s next opponent.
Lastly, 15th seed Belinda Bencic was also among the early winners on the third day of play at the 2023 US Open. The Swiss took 90 minutes to complete a 6-3, 6-3 win over Great Britain’s Yuriko Lily Miyazaki.