Teenager Coco Gauff triumphed in a battle of tennis generations as she stopped the career comeback of former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the US Open quarter-finals on Sunday.
The American had to battle to defeat her 33-year-old Danish opponent who has made a return to the WTA after three years away while becoming a mother twice.
Sixth seed Gauff won her ninth consecutive match after a first-round Wimbledon exit which sparked a turnaround in her game this hardcourt summer.
She is the first American to get this far at Flushing Meadows (back-to-back quarter-finals) since Serena Williams.
“Caroline’s back — it’s like she’s never left,” Gauff said of the veteran. “She’s been an inspiration growing up.
“She definitely gets to a lot of balls. Sometimes I felt like I was playing myself.
“I knew I had to be aggressive today. In some moments I missed, but I was happy I was able to get back and focus.”
Gauff advanced to the last eight with 33 winners but had 44 unforced errors.
Gauf’s record since her Wimbledon disappointment in early July is 15 wins from 16 matches, including titles on hardcourt in Washington and Cincinnati.
The youngster from Florida dominated the third set with a 5-2 lead which remained unchallenged.
Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova advanced past China’s Wang Xinyu 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 to net play Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
The 10th seeded Muchova, back from injuries last season, got through a struggle featuring 15 breaks in 28 service games. The Czech ended with 32 winners and 37 unforced errors,
“I’m really glad I finished it and it’s over,” Muchova said. “In the third set, I came to my game, to slice it more and change the rhythm – it was the key, actually.”
Cristea put out Swiss Olympic champion and 15th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-3 in 84 minutes and becomes an Open quarter-finalist at age 33.
Main photo:-Coco Gauff in winning form – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
