Tennis
Coco Gauff beats Iva Jovic to reach US Open quarter-finals
Coco Gauff won the all-American Labour Day showdown against teenager Iva Jovic to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old, bidding for a second Flushing Meadows title, overpowered Jovic 6-1 6-4 on a balmy bank holiday night in New York.
An impressive victory set up a last-eight meeting with French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, whom Gauff has beaten in all five of their career meetings.
A jittery start from the 2023 winner gifted 18-year-old Jovic a break in the first game with a double fault.
But Jovic’s nerves were also on show as Gauff raced away with the next six games to take the first set.
Jovic finally held serve at the start of the second but three spectacular Gauff hustles, turning desperate defence into all-out attack, secured a break for 3-2.
The youngster managed to hit straight back, but was then broken to love as Gauff took control before serving out to win in an hour and 33 minutes.
Gauff, yet to drop a set so far, said: “Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent, she plays beyond her years. I’m used to being the younger American!”
Two-time former champion Naomi Osaka revealed she is carrying an Achilles injury after she was knocked out 6-1 6-4 by Elena Rybakina.
“Yesterday I got an ultrasound, and then I got an ultrasound again just now,” said the 28-year-old from Japan.
“I’m probably going to go get an MRI, because honestly, I don’t really know too much about what’s going on.”
There was disappointment for the home nation in the men’s draw as 20-year-old Learner Tien, the 14th seed, lost a marathon five-setter to Russian Karen Khachanov.
Frenchman Arthur Gea had a match point in the third set to make history by becoming the first lucky loser to reach a grand slam quarter-final in the Open era, but he ended up also losing in five to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
