Coco Gauff’s wish comes true with match against comeback queen Caroline Wozniacki – ‘She’s still fit’

Shahida Jacobs 02 Sep 2023 4:29 AM

Coco Gauff (USA) in action

The round of 16 at the 2023 US Open has thrown up a battle of the generations between Coco Gauff and Caroline Wozniacki.

While 19-year-old Gauff is still in the infancy of her career, the 33-year-old Wozniacki has been there, done that, got the T-shirt, retired and made a comeback.

And their third-round wins were similar as both had to come back from a set down as Gauff battled her way to a victory over Elise Mertens while the Dane held off Jennifer Brady.

Asked about the match against Wozniacki – who retired in January 2020 before returning to the game in August – the American said: “It’s a matchup I never thought I’d have to play.

“When she retired I remember saying that I wish I could have played her. So that wish came true so I’m really excited.”

She added: “I don’t know if it’s a battle of generations.

“She’s still fit and going strong. I think it’s going to be an exciting match.”

That last game brought all the Coco highlights! pic.twitter.com/Y0dQEn32UR

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2023

For the second time in three matches, Gauff had to go the distance at Flushing Meadows as 31st seed Mertens threatened to spoil the New York party as she broke in games seven and nine of the opening set.

The teenager then had to save five break points in the second game of the second set before she broke in the next game only for the Belgian to immediately get back on serving terms.

But Gauff the sixth seed eventually found her rhythm and broke again in game seven before a second break in game nine wrapped up the set. It was one-way traffic from there.

After the match she said: “I’m just happy. And if anything, the three-setters show everybody else that I’m not going down without a fight.”

She will square off with Wozniacki for a place in the quarter-final on Sunday and the player who comes out in top is likely to be rewarded with a clash against defending champion Iga Swiatek.

The world No 1 was in an imperious mood on Friday as she brushed aside her best friend and qualifier Kaja Juvan 6-0, 6-1 to set up an encounter against 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

“For sure I didn’t like the fact that I was winning with my best friend. But I knew that I had to be really focused and not let myself think about that because it was really like playing against a sister,” said Swiatek.

“I don’t have many friends but she’s my best friend. So yeah, that was the toughest part for sure.”