Coco Gauff kept her bid to become world No 1 on track as she won an all-American clash to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
Gauff joked afterwards that she was “used to being the young American” but the two-time grand slam champion had the greater experience against 18-year-old Iva Jovic, the 14th seed.
22-year-old Gauff, bidding for a second Flushing Meadows title, overpowered Jovic 6-1 6-4 on a balmy bank holiday night in New York.
Her win means all of the top six women’s seeds have made the quarter-finals in New York for the first time since 1998 – in start contrast to the men’s tournament, where only three of the top 10 remain.
The women’s quarter-final line-up features six grand slam champions, the reigning Olympic champion, a former US Open semi-finalist in Emma Navarro and former runner-up in New York, Jessica Pegula.
A jittery start from the 2023 winner gifted 18-year-old Jovic a break in the first game with a double fault. But Jovic’s nerves were also on show as Gauff raced away with the next six games to take the first set.
Jovic finally held serve at the start of the second but three spectacular Gauff hustles, turning desperate defence into all-out attack, secured a break for 3-2.
The youngster managed to hit straight back, but was then broken to love as Gauff took control before serving out to win in an hour and 33 minutes.
Gauff, yet to drop a set so far, said: “Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent, she plays beyond her years. I’m used to being the younger American!”
She is through to the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2023, having lost in the fourth round in the last two editions, and would become world No 1 if she wins the title and second seed Elena Rybakina fails to make the semi-finals.
An impressive victory set up a meeting with French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, whom Gauff has beaten in all five of their career meetings.
Andreeva was forced to come from behind to grind out a win over 24th seed Anastasia Potapova, who fell and injured her knee at 0-15 down in the final game of the match and was in tears as her Russian opponent won the next three points to seal the win, 5-7 6-4 6-3.
Fifth seed Andreeva said: “Anastasia is my good friend and seeing what a battle we had and seeing her fall like that in the last game, it’s not easy.
“I told her that she’s been playing amazing and having one of her best seasons. I’m sure she’ll come back even stronger – she’s a warrior and an even better fighter than me.”
Two-time former champion Naomi Osaka revealed she is carrying an Achilles injury after she was knocked out 6-1 6-4 by Australian Open champion Rybakina.
The Kazakh will become world No 1 if she reaches the semi-finals and faces Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng for a spot in the last four.
“Yesterday I got an ultrasound, and then I got an ultrasound again just now,” said the 28-year-old from Japan.
“I’m probably going to go get an MRI, because honestly, I don’t really know too much about what’s going on.”
Additional reporting by PA
