Coco Gauff battles past Caroline Wozniacki to keep US Open dream alive

Coco Gauff booked her spot in the US Open quarter-final (Image: Getty) Coco Gauff reached the quarter-final of the US Open with a hard-fought 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over ‘legend’ Caroline Wozniacki. The American stormed back from an early break down in the final set to match her previous best result at her home Grand Slam tournament. Gauff is now on a nine-match winning streak going back to her title win in Cincinnati and is still dreaming of lifting her first Major trophy this fortnight. Gauff was getting the chance to play an opponent she never expected to face in Wozniacki, who recently left retirement after three-and-a-half years. The former world No 1 ended her career at the 2020 Australian Open but staged a comeback last month and the US Open marked just her third tournament since returning. ‘I never thought I would ever be in this position, especially after she retired and came back. But she’s still like a really fit player,’ the 19-year-old previously said of facing Wozniacki. Gauff also branded her opponent a ‘legend’ – and it was the more experienced player who struck first on Arthur Ashe Stadium.  A two-time finalist in Flushing Meadows, Wozniacki broke the sixth seed in the very first game. But Gauff showed the composure she has been exhibiting throughout the hard-court summer as she got the break back to level at 2-2. Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news Caroline Wozniacki forced a decider (Image: Getty) The American continued to raise her level, winning 10 points in a row from 3-3 as she broke Wozniacki for a second time and gave herself the chance to serve for the set. It took three set points but Gauff put herself within touching distance of the quarter-final as she took the opener 6-3 in just 39 minutes. The world No 6 faced more tests in the second set as Wozniacki had break points in Gauff’s first three service games. Gauff continued to stay calm as she played herself out of trouble but the 33-year-old finally got the break at a crucial moment as she managed to serve for the second set and took it 6-3 to force a decider. The 19-year-old appeared visibly frustrated as she told her coaching team to be quiet. Wozniacki kept rolling at the start of the third, breaking Gauff in the opening game. But the sixth seed came storming back, breaking the 30-time title winner twice and winning four games on the bounce. Coco Gauff earned a moral bagel (Image: Getty)