American teenager Coco Gauff made it through to the quarter-finals of the US Open as she ended the dream run of Caroline Wozniacki in a three-set thriller on Sunday.
It’s been an impressive comeback from 33-year-old Wozniacki but Gauff, at 19, is currently playing best tennis of her career and she completed an impressive 6-3 3-6 6-1 to make it through to the last eight for the second year in a row.
The American will face the winner of the match between Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek in the last eight on Tuesday.
Wozniacki has been an inspiration
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Gauff said Wozniacki has been an inspiration and it was an honour to share the court with her
“Caroline (Wozniacki) is back and it looks like she never left, the level that she played today is amazing and she’s being an inspiration for me. I remember when I saw her win the Australian Open, to play with her is an honour,” Gauff said.
“She definitely gets to a lot of balls. I felt a bit like I was playing myself. I knew I had to play aggressive and go for my shots. In some moments I miss but I was happy I could get back and refocus.”
It will be the fifth Grand Slam quarter-final of Gauff’s still-fledgling career and her second at Flushing Meadows.
“I’ve been in this position before,” she added. “And I think I have confidence in myself that I can go even further.”
How Gauff made it through to the quarter-finals…
Wozniacki got off to a dream start with a break in the first game and a 2-0 lead.
But Gauff quickly got back on the board, levelling at 3-3 before going on to clinch the first set without dropping another game.
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Wozniacki rolled back the years to get the better of Gauff in this epic rally
Wozniacki cranked up the pressure in the second and Gauff started feeling it as her suspect forehand began to misfire and she was broken for 5-3 as the Dane levelled the match.
Gauff looked uncomfortable as she dropped serve again at the start of the decider, but after pointedly ignoring the advice of coach Brad Gilbert, the wound-up American began firing backhand winners as if they were going out of fashion.
She reeled off the next six games to clinch the victory and let out a loud scream of triumph after converting match point.
Tale of the Tape
Match analysis
Marion Bartoli looks at how Gauff has corrected her game throughout the summer with the 19-year-old winning titles in Washington and Cincinnati before the start of the US Open.
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Marion Bartoli says Gauff has been correcting her game throughout the summer and the confidence she’s gained is taking her to the next level
Romanian Sorana Cirstea reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in 14 years after upsetting 15th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-3.
Making her 59th Grand Slam main draw appearance and 15th at the US Open, the 33-year-old Romanian’s only other quarter-final appearance was at the 2009 French Open.
Cirstea becomes the oldest woman to reach the last eight in New York for the first time.
Next up for the Romanian is Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova who advanced with a 6-3 5-7 6-1 win over China’s Wang Xinyu.
The US Open on Sky Sports: How and where to watch
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Watch the US Open live and exclusive on Sky Sports up until September 10. All courts will be available to watch for the first time
Sky welcomes tennis back to its channels, adding to the existing sports portfolio and reaffirming the broadcaster as the home of live sport in the UK & Ireland.
Sky Sports’ new mixed reality studio features multiple custom built LED screens, integrated light ‘sabres’, and an open canopy roof, making the space alive with colour and energy to reflect the vibrancy of the last Grand Slam of the year.
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Relive Andy Murray’s rollercoaster career at the US Open, which saw him claim his maiden major title in 2012
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From Novak Djokovic to Iga Swiatek – it is time to meet the US Open champion contenders!
With integrated AR capabilities, a versatile LED floor, and a ‘fourth wall’, the viewer will be transported to the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a 360-degree immersive environment. Our tennis experts will take the viewer into the eyes of the players for expert Hawkeye analysis and insight as the tournament progresses.
The technology involved allows us to add an entire new dimension and will bring customers closer to the action.
Highlights of matches will be available across Sky Sports TV and our social media platforms.
Video highlights will also be available of the Sky Sports website and app, where there will also be a daily live text commentary on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as live scores, reports, analysis and features.
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