Coco Gauff survives scare, scores big comeback win against Elina Svitolina

Coco Gauff was one set away from ending her US Open title defence in the third round, but managed to extend it by turning a set deficit into a 3-6 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina.

When the match began, it was the 27th-seeded Ukrainian who controlled the rhythm and the American was on her back foot. But after winning the first set, the former world number 3 failed to convert a break point in the next set and that was when the reigning US Open champion turned the momentum in her favor and eventually completed a comeback.

For a place in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, Gauff will play either 13th-seeded Emma Navarro or 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk.

How did Gauff come back and beat Svitolina?

Early in the first set, it was Svitolina who had the first break point chances, but missed two chances in the fourth game and another in the sixth. However, the Ukrainian tennis player also saved three break points in the seventh game before finally earning the first break in the eighth game and serving for the opener in the next game.

With a set lead, the No. 27 also had a chance to claim an early break in the second set, but was unable to do so after Gauff saved a break point in the fifth game. After a set and a half, the third-seeded American finally made her first major breakthrough when she got a break in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead and then held serve for the rest of the set to force a deciding set.

Shortly after levelling the score at 1-1, the 20-year-old continued her run in the third set, winning a break in the first game and again in the fifth game to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

Gauff, who was serving for the match, stunningly missed three match points in a row, but she scored her fourth match point thanks to Svitolina’s serve in the ninth game.