In the meeting between two important players of the new generation , Coco Gauff got the better of Emma Raducanu and advanced to the third round of the Australian Open. Undefeated in the season and coming to the title in Auckland, Gauff made good the good phase and continues without losing sets in seven games at the beginning of the year. The 18-year-old American and number 7 in the world scored the partials of 6/3 and 7/6 (7-4) in 1h42 of departure this Wednesday.
Despite her young age, Gauff is already making her fourth appearance at the Australian Open and has already reached the round of 16 in 2020. Her next opponent will come from the match between the Chinese Qinwen Zheng and the North American Bernarda Pera. Already Raducanu, 20 years old and champion of the US Open in 2021, currently appears in 77th place. The British arrived at the Australian Open worried about a recent ankle injury, but managed to perform competitively and without physical limitations.
A seriously impressive performance 👏
No.7 seed @CocoGauff beats Emma Raducanu to reach the third round!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/6CXLQOYq90
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023
The first set was more balanced than the score indicates. Even at the beginning of the match, Gauff had to reverse a 15-40. And in the next game, he took advantage of the momentum and got the break. The North American lost her serve soon after, by committing a double fault, but regained the advantage shortly afterwards, in a very unstable game by her rival in the background rallies. Gauff still escaped three more break-points when serving for the set and defined the partial with a great open serve. The British made one more winner, 7 to 6, but made 21 errors against 15.
With a break early in the second set, Gauff seemed to be on the way to victory. She even led by 4/2, but suffered the break and allowed the tie in the eighth game. When Raducanu led 5/4, she came within two set-points but did not capitalize on her chances. First, she kept exchanging balls in the middle of the court until she missed. Shortly after, he risked a drop-shot that fell too short and died in the net. Gauff confirmed a key serve game, forced a tiebreak, and settled the match in straight sets. Raducanu led 17-13 on winners and committed 42 errors, one more than Gauff.
Ostapenko also advances, Andreescu is eliminated
Two other Grand Slam champions who acted in the complement of this Wednesday’s round had opposite directions in the tournament. Latvian Jelena Ostapenko overcame Hungarian Anna Bondar 7/6 (7-5), 5/7, 6/0. Her next rival is the Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl, who beat the American Caty McNally 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
Canadian Bianca Andreescu suffered a tough defeat. The former top 5 had a match-point in the tiebreak of the second set, but allowed the Spaniard to come back from quali Cristina Bucsa, who won by 2/6, 7/6 (9-7) and 6/4. Bucsa, 25 years old and number 100 in the world, is the next rival of ranking leader Iga Swiatek.
What a win 🙌
Qualifier Cristina Bucsa defeats 2019 #USOpen champion Bianca Andreescu 2-6 7-6(7) 6-4 to make the third round. #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/MEQfHIEuyl
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023
