Defending Champ Coco Gauff Storms Back To Reach U.S. Open 4th ...

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Coco Gauff of the United States reacts against Elina Svitolina of ... [+] Ukraine during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Five of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After spinning in a 94 mile per hour ace out towards the doubles alley to clinch the second set, Coco Gauff pumped her fist as the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd roared in approval.

The defending U.S. Open champion and No. 3 seed had turned the momentum in her favor and went on to defeat No. 27 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the round of 16. After dropping the first set, she did not get flustered and found the level she needed to win. She relied on her speed, serve and forehand — which has been dodgy this summer — to carry her.

In the next round on Sunday, the 20-year-old will face No. 13 American Emma Navarro, who prevailed in three sets over No. 19 Marta Kostyuk and beat Gauff in straight sets in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

“I know you guys were waiting for the right moment to bring [the energy] and I guess it worked, I was able to come back,” Gauff told the crowd. “This is my favorite court to play on, Ashe really brings the energy and I really appreciate you guys.”

She added: “I tried to be more aggressive on the forehand side and make less errors on the backhand side. I think the difference was just me being more aggressive on the serve.”

Gauff is no stranger to adversity at the Open. On three occasions during her title run last year, she overcame a one-set deficit to advance.

Gauff remains alive to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to repeat as champion in New York.

Svitolina, 29, is married to French tennis star Gael Monfils, who sat in her player box, and the couple has a nearly 2-year-old daughter, Skai.

Ranked No. 28 in the world, Svitolina entered with 39 wins over Top 10 opponents. She reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2019 and has twice made the Wimbledon semis, most recently in 2023.

Gauff struggled on her serve early after handling it well in her first two matches. She saved 8-of-8 break points in the first round and 4-of-5 in the second.

According to ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez, coach Brad Gilbert’s game plan for Gauff coming in was to avoid crosscourt forehand rallies with Svitolina and instead to try to get the ball up high to Svitolina’s backhand.

Serving at 3-4 in the first set, Gauff fell behind 0-40 and then hit a two-handed backhand into the net to give Svitolina a 5-3 lead.

Svitolina closed out the first set at love when Gauff sailed a forehand wide on triple-break point.

In the second set, it was Gauff who struck first blood.

With Svitolina serving at 2-3, 30-all, Gauff smacked a forehand service return winner down the line to earn break point and then secured the break at 30-40 with a crosscourt forehand winner for 4-2.

Serving to level the match at 5-3, Gauff spun in a 94-mph ace on set point and then pumped her fist as the crowd roared in approval.

“In the second set the crowd really came alive for Coco and really, really were behind her and that gives a player energy,” 18-time major champion Chrissie Evert said on the ESPN call.

Said Mary Joe Fernandez: “It was the serve and the forehand that won her the second set.”

In the decisive third set, Svitolina had two double-faults to start the first game before Gauff broke her for a 1-0 lead.

Gauff then earned a double-break for 4-1 when Svitolina netted a forehand.

Serving at 5-2, 40-0 Gauff double-faulted twice before getting broken for 5-3.

Svitolina then fell behind 0-40 on her serve and it ended when Svitolina hit a forehand into the net and Gauff skipped in celebration toward the net as they shook hands.

“The last game I served not so good so maybe I’ll go hit some serves,” she joked.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot against Elina ... [+] Svitolina of Ukraine during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Five of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

A year ago, Gauff became the youngest U.S. Open champion since a 17-year-old Serena Williams won it in 1999.

Evert, the 18-time major champion and ESPN analyst, likes the fact that Gauff took a mental health break after the Olympics to clear her head ahead of the Open.

“I like the fact that she went home, too, for a couple days to reset, to see her family, to be a normal girl,” Evert said.

During an ESPN conference call, Evert said she thought being a flag bearer at the Olympics — and all that came with it — took an emotional toll on Gauff.

“When I watched her at the Olympics, leading the parade, leading the whole Olympics, not only the American team, I saw her trading pins, she was photographed meeting all her idols,” Evert said. “I'm like, this girl won't be able to play. She'll be so exhausted. She won't be able to play. I didn't expect her to win. She didn't win. I think emotionally that took so much out of her. She's still a young girl and wants to have fun, as well.”

Evert added: “I just think it's a lot. She's in demand physically. She's in demand with appearances. Everyone wants a piece of her.”

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 16: Aryna Sabalenka celebrates defeating Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the ... [+] third round on Day 6 of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 16, 2024 in Mason, Ohio (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Things won’t get any easier going forward.

Gauff could face two-time Australian Open champ and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the final. Gauff defeated Sabalenka in three sets in the 2023 U.S. Open final.

Sabalenka came in as the betting favorite after beating Swiatek in the semis of the Cincinnati Open, 6-3, 6-3, and then American Jessica Pegula in the final, 6-3, 7-5.

“[Sabalenka] is a huge favorite in her section and the overall favorite to win it all,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe said by text.

Still, if Gauff can keep her mojo going, she could change the trajectory of her season.

“It's going to be who is the freshest, who is the freshest for seven matches, and who can hold on and get that energy that they need,” Evert said. “She can still win it.”