Coco Gauff defeats Paula Badosa to advance to third round at US Open

Coco Gauff faced Paula Badosa in the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff, who had lost her last two matches against Badosa, managed to secure a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory, marking her eighth consecutive win and advancing her to the third round for the fifth consecutive year. Gauff expressed her relief and excitement after the match, stating, "I think it’s good to be battle tested." She acknowledged the challenge of facing Badosa early in the tournament, noting Badosa's previous ranking as high as world No. 2. Despite some nerves at the beginning of the match, Gauff improved her performance as it progressed, particularly in the second set, which included a competitive tiebreak. Gauff's serve reached a speed of 121 mph during the match. When asked about the possibility of hitting 130 mph, she responded, "I don’t know if I can or not. That’s a good question." Gauff is among four women in the tournament who could potentially become world No. 1 by its conclusion. However, she emphasized her focus on winning Grand Slam titles rather than achieving the top ranking, stating, "I’ve never thought about being number one."