Coco Gauff Battles Nerves, Serving Woes, and Tears to Defeat Donna Vekic and Reach US Open Third Round

Coco Gauff’s US Open campaign stayed on course Wednesday night as she overcame nerves, double faults, and a spirited challenge from Donna Vekic to win 7-6 6-2 in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 21-year-old American, already one of the biggest draws in tennis, showed both vulnerability and resilience in a match that tested her composure as much as her shot-making.

First Set: A roller coaster of nerves

The opening set was nothing short of chaotic. Donna Vekic, the experienced Croatian, struck first by breaking Gauff in the very first game and racing to a 2–0 lead. Gauff responded with a surge of four straight games, only for momentum to swing back again. Neither player could hold serve with any consistency, the set turning into a tug-of-war where nerves loomed as large as shot-making.

Midway through, Gauff’s emotions broke through. Fighting her own serve and the weight of expectations, she was seen in tears as the tension mounted. Across the net, Vekic was also struggling, at one point requiring a medical timeout for her shoulder. Twice she found herself serving for the set, and twice she faltered. In the decisive tiebreak, it was Gauff who steadied, showing flashes of her trademark resilience to claim the opener 7-6(5).

By then, the numbers told their own story: a combined 16 double faults between them, amplifying the sense of a set on edge. As the set ended, Gauff left the court to regroup, visibly emotional, the pressure of being the face of American tennis spilling over in a rare public moment of vulnerability.

Second Set: Regulation at Last

When play resumed, the mood shifted. Gauff looked refreshed, her footwork sharper, her serve cleaner. The errors that had plagued her in the opener faded, replaced by the suffocating defense that has made her one of the best players in the world. She broke Vekic in the third game and again in the seventh, closing out the second set 6-2 with authority.

The contrast to the opener was stark: what had been a scrap became a statement. Gauff not only overcame her own emotions but also managed the physical struggles of her opponent.

Looking ahead

In her on-court interview, Gauff grew emotional once more, thanking the crowd for carrying her through the first set. It was a reminder of the immense expectations on her shoulders and the maturity she continues to build. With her new partnership with trainer Gavin MacMillan already drawing attention, Gauff leaves this match knowing there is still plenty of work to be done. But if this contest showed anything, it’s that she won’t go down without a fight.