The 20-year-old American endured an emotional second-round clash against Croatia’s Donna Vekić on Thursday night. After struggling with her serve and breaking down in tears during a changeover, Gauff regrouped to claim a 7–6 (5), 6–2 victory.
Vekić pushed Gauff to the edge in a tense opening set. Gauff’s serve wavered, producing double faults and frustration that spilled over on court. But when the moment mattered most, she found her composure. The No. 2 edged a nervy tiebreak 7–5, sending Arthur Ashe Stadium into relief and applause.
From there, Gauff flipped the script. Freed from the weight of the first set, she rediscovered her rhythm. Her baseline power and improved accuracy overwhelmed Vekić, who could not keep pace in the second set. In just under two hours, the defending champion secured her place in the third round.
Speaking after the match, Gauff admitted the tears were part of the process: a sign of the pressure, but also of her determination. Next up, she will face Poland’s Magdalena Frech, as the dream of back-to-back US Open titles stays alive.