US Open Drama: Gauff Pushes Through, Zverduz Wins Late‑Night Thriller and Monfils Says Goodbye

It was a sweltering evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the kind of heat that makes the ball feel heavier and the nerves a little tighter. Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and fourth seed, stepped onto the court with a chorus of cheers behind her and a modest bite of anxiety in her stomach.

Her opponent, Spain’s Paula Badosa, may sit at world No. 87, but the Spaniard carries a surprisingly comfortable record against Gauff – she’s won their last two meetings, including a straight‑sets victory at the Australian Open last year. Badosa started strongly, forcing the American to save two break points early on, and for a moment it looked like she might pull an upset.

Gauff, however, found a break of her own in the first set, thanks in part to a costly forehand error from Badosa that seemed to shake the Spaniard’s confidence. The American held her nerve, closed out the opener 6‑4, and the match moved into a tighter second set.

The second set turned into a seesaw battle, with both players exchanging breaks twice. It headed for a tiebreak, and the tension was palpable. Badosa raised her level, sending long, looping shots that tested Gauff’s patience. Yet the American’s forehand snapped back into place, and when she finally sealed the tiebreak 7‑5, the crowd erupted.

“Paula is a tough player,” Gauff admitted, still catching her breath. “I felt like I had the lead, but there wasn’t much I did wrong. She stepped it up. I’m really happy to be through today.” She added that she expected a formidable opponent in the next round – former world No. 2 Badosa was certainly not a walk‑over, and the win would give her confidence heading into a potential third Grand Slam title.

While Gauff was celebrating, the men’s draw provided its own drama. Top seed Alexander Zverev endured a grueling five‑set marathon against France’s Quentin Halys that stretched well past midnight. Zverev had already survived a six‑set battle in the opening round, and this time he found himself once again defending a lead, only to see Halys claw it back.

After four and a half hours of relentless rallying, the German finally clinched the match 6‑4, 4‑6, 7‑6(3), 6‑7(3), 6‑3. The victory was sealed at 2:15 am local time – a time most fans would normally be dreaming. In doing so, Zverev became the first top‑seeded man in the Open Era to begin a major with two consecutive five‑set matches.

Elsewhere, Frenchman Gaël Monfils bowed out of his Grand Slam career. The flamboyant French star, known for his acrobatic shot‑making and infectious smile, saw his run end in the early rounds, effectively closing the curtain on a career that, while never crowned with a major title, left an indelible mark on the sport.

Other notable results from the day included 19‑year‑old Mirra Andreeva breezing past Eva Lys 6‑0, 6‑2 to reach her third round, and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina dispatching Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6‑2, 6‑4 after a brief fitness scare.

The US Open continues to serve up suspense, surprises, and the occasional late‑night heroics. Fans can keep following the action on Sky Sports, NOW or the Sky Sports app – just make sure you’ve got a good cup of coffee on standby.