By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, September 7, 2026
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
NEW YORK—Anticipation is a Coco Gauff asset.
Tonight, Gauff played with powerful prescience.
Beating Iva Jovic to the ball, Gauff played as if powered by an internal GPS landing a US Open quarterfinal return.
In an all-American clash, Gauff streaked past Jovic 6-1, 6-4 into her 12th Grand Slam quarterfinal before a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd that included Hall of Famer Jennifer Capriati, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and former Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.
Cincinnati Open champion Gauff scored her 10th straight win as she continues her hunt for a second US Open final in the the last four years.
A talented shotmaker, the 18-year-old Jovic broke to open this match.
Then Gauff elevated her game to places Jovic could not match. Gauff converted five of 11 break points, doubled Jovic’s winner output (18 to 9) and fired her forehand with as much command as she has the entire tournament.
It was a complete performance from Gauff, who defended with determination and attacked with vigor winning 16 of 22 trips to net.
“Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent,” Gauff told ESPN’s Christopher Eubanks afterward. “She plays beyond her years. I’ve been in a similar position as her so I’m looking forward to many more battles out there.
“I’m sure we’ll be playing a lot more in the future. I think I got a lot more looks on break points. I think the difference was finally capitalizing on break point opportunities.
“Honestly there was one game where I felt like I was running a marathon and that one got me through. That was the first match where I felt out of breath in a long time.”
The 2023 US Open champion Gauff surged into her 12th Grand Slam quarterfinal in style pulling off a snazzy serve-and-volley sticking a challenging low backhand volley in the corner to close in one hour, 33 minutes.
The 22-year-old Gauff has not surrendered a set returning to the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals for the first time since she rallied past Aryna Sabalenka to take the 2023 title.
Gauff set up a blockbuster quarterfinal showdown vs. reigning Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva, who outlasted Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The match of the current and former French Open champions has favored Gauff, who is 5-0 lifetime vs. Andreeva.
“I guess the head to head leans my way, but it’s always super tough,” Gauff said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The quarterfinal pits two of the best two-handed backhands in the sport. Gauff has been much more aggressive on both first and second serves at this US Open compared to the 2025 Open when she started working with coach and biomechanics technician Gavin MacMillan, one week before the US Open started.
While Gauff stopped short of calling it her best match of the tourbnament—younger brother Cameron gave her a big thumbs-up from the box—she’s played some of her most dynamic tennis of the season
Attacking Gauff’s sometimes flaky forehand from the outset, Jovic exploited a double fault breaking to open the match.
Even when she suffers a slow start, Gauff’s fast feet and skill stretching points can thwart opponents. Gauff broke right back then ripped a 121 mile-an-hour serve winner that helped her back up the break.
Varying spins, speeds and heights on her shots, Gauff kept the ball out of Jovic’s strike zone then drew a netted error for her second straight break in the fourth game.
Setting up quickly for a forehand, Gauff drilled a diagonal winner that helped her hold at 15 for a 4-1 lead.
Seemingly drained by her thrilling 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 win over Washington, DC champion Alexandra Eala that spanned three hours, three-minutes, Jovic’s shot tolerance dipped as the set progressed. Flailing a forehand, Jovic
When Jovic sent a forehand wide, Gauff grabbed her sixth straight game and the lopsided 34-minute opening set.
Exuding more energy, Gauff cruised through 12 of the final 13 points of the set
The 2023 champion cruised through 12 of the final 13 points drawing errors from Jovic.
At that point, the 18-year-old Jovic desperately needed to make a stand and she did exactly that holding firm to start the second set and snap a six-game losing streak.
As Hall of Famer and New York native Jennifer Capriati watched, the match escalated in the fifth game.
A pulsating 24-shot rally saw Gauff make an outrageous backhand flick then run down a forehand for break point.
Answering immediately, Jovic cracked a running forehand pass down the line. Jovic’s skill driving down the line makes her a threat, but Gauff’s explosive speed shrunk open space as the teenager popped up a half volley and paid the price.
Sprinting forward, Gauff belted a pass right into the body rattling out the error and holding up her hand in apology for the body blow as she broke for 3-2.
Even after eight games, Gauff stepped inside the baseline and torched an 82 mph backhand bolt for triple break point. When Jovic sailed a shot beyond the line, Gauff flashed a clenched fist to her box, breaking for 5-4.
Serving for the quarterfinals, Gauff hit a leaping sent a smash off the tape and enjoyed a favorable bounce for match point.
Pressing forward, Gauff leaned low to scrape a slick backhand volley and closing with slick shotmaking.
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