Coco Gauff Advances with Dominant Second Set at U.S. Open

Defending champion Coco Gauff overcame early errors to defeat German player Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0 in the second round of the U.S. Open. Gauff, who will next face Elina Svitolina, credited her team's support for helping her stay relaxed under pressure, ultimately winning with a strong backhand finish.

Defending champion Coco Gauff brought her "nothing to lose" mentality to the second round of the U.S. Open, overcoming early mistakes to beat unseeded German Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0 on Wednesday. The American, who had also defeated Maria in Auckland last year, rebounded from an error-filled first set to dominate the second, sealing the match with a sublime backhand winner.

Next up, Gauff will face 2019 semi-finalist Elina Svitolina from Ukraine. Gauff attributed her calm demeanor under the high-stakes pressure to her supportive team. "I have really nothing to lose," she said, emphasizing how they treat high-pressure matches like practice and focus on having fun.

The third seed had a rocky start in the lead-up to New York with early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati, and she showed visible frustration with 20 unforced errors and seven double faults in the first set. However, she pulled it together, breaking Maria's serve and coming back strong in the second set. Adjustments during the match included attacking the net more often, which disrupted Maria's game and led to a decisive victory amid applause from the home crowd.

(With inputs from agencies.)