(UPDATE) NEW YORK — Coco Gauff survived late-match drama to keep her US Open title defense alive with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina on Friday (Saturday in Manila) as men's defending champion Novak Djokovic aimed to further his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Gauff's third-set surge had carried her to a 5-2 lead and triple match point, but she delivered a pair of double faults and Svitolina saved another with a blazing backhand on the way to a break.
ON TARGET American Coco Gauff returns a shot against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 30, 2024 in New York City. AFP PHOTO