A year after her serve became a well-documented liability at Flushing Meadows, Coco Gauff US Open 2026 has taken on a very different shape. The No. 4 seed has advanced to the third round without dropping a set, backing up a summer that included a title run at the Cincinnati Open and a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, as she chases a second US Open championship following her breakthrough win in 2023.
Gauff opened her campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Türkiye’s Zeynep Sönmez, finishing in one hour and 20 minutes — tying the second-shortest opening-round match of her US Open career. She followed that up with a tougher 6-4, 7-6(5) win over former world No. 2 Paula Badosa to reach the third round.
A Year-Long Technical Rebuild
Gauff’s serve had become a genuine source of struggle in recent seasons, peaking in a since-referenced fourth-round match two years ago where she double-faulted 19 times. That history made her performance against Sönmez especially notable: Gauff won 64% of her second-serve points, the third-highest rate of her career in a US Open match, according to tournament data.
The improvement reflects what has been described as a year-long technical reconstruction of both her serve and forehand, worked on extensively with coach Gavin Macmillan, who joined her team in 2025. Gauff acknowledged the significance of the turnaround herself. “I had to remind myself of the basics,” she said during a press conference. “When I do that, the joy is there and the pressure [goes away].”
The Emotional Side of the Turnaround
Beyond the technical numbers, Gauff pointed to a mental and emotional shift as central to her improved form. “I feel like I ride and die on my results, just because [of] how competitive and perfectionist I am,” she explained, adding that her best tournament performances have historically come when she takes “a step back and just focus[es] on the joy of it all.”
That mindset was on display after her win over Sönmez, when Gauff was asked how she handled her opponent’s aggressive net play late in the match. “I think I was just trying not to panic,” she said. “She started coming to the net and playing great tennis, and I know that I can raise my level if I need to. I like to challenge my opponent — to let them keep up the level the whole match. And if they do, I clap my hands and I walk off court with my head held high.”
Battling Through the Badosa Test
Gauff’s second-round win over Badosa proved considerably more difficult, requiring a tiebreak in the second set to close out the match 6-4, 7-6(5). Speaking afterward, Gauff credited her opponent’s quality while noting the value of facing that level of competition early in the tournament. “Paula is a tough player. I feel like I had the lead but there wasn’t too much I did wrong. She stepped it up. I’m really happy to be through today,” Gauff said, adding that matches of that intensity help build her confidence heading deeper into the draw.
Building on a Strong Summer
Gauff’s US Open form continues momentum built over the summer, highlighted by her Cincinnati Open title — a tournament she also won in 2023, the same year she broke through at Flushing Meadows. That run included a comfortable straight-sets win over Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati final, extending her strong head-to-head record against the American world No. 3, against whom she has now won four of their last five meetings.
What’s Next for Gauff
With the serve concerns that dogged her in recent seasons apparently addressed, Gauff advances to the third round with genuine momentum behind her bid for a second US Open crown. Her next opponent and the matches that follow will offer a clearer picture of whether the technical and mental adjustments can hold up against the tournament’s deepest challenges in the second week.
FAQ Section
Q: How has Coco Gauff performed so far at the 2026 US Open?
A: Gauff has reached the third round without dropping a set, beating Zeynep Sönmez 6-3, 6-4 and Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6(5).
Q: What was wrong with Coco Gauff’s serve in previous seasons?
A: Her serve had become a significant liability, including a match in which she double-faulted 19 times, prompting a year-long technical rework.
Q: Who is Coco Gauff’s coach?
A: Gauff works with Jean-Christophe Faurel and Gavin Macmillan, who joined her coaching team in 2025 and has been credited with helping rebuild her serve and forehand.
Q: Has Coco Gauff won the US Open before?
A: Yes, Gauff won her first US Open title in 2023.
Q: What did Coco Gauff win earlier this summer?
A: She won the Cincinnati Open title in the lead-up to the 2026 US Open, having also reached the semifinals at Wimbledon.
