(September 1, 2023) FLUSHING, NY – No. 6 seed Coco Gauff won the last 10 straight games to complete a comeback against No.32 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night to make the Sweet 16 of the US Open.

“The energy today definitely helped me. I felt you guys,” said Gauff thanking the crowd in her on-court interview after the match. “I played every point my hardest.”

Gauff is 14-1 since Wimbledon.

“She was playing a little bit more aggressive than the last time I played her,” Gauff said of her opponent who caused her problems in the first set. “Also I had some areas where I was not missing by a lot, it was a little bit, on like balls that I probably could have ended the point on.”

“I just probably needed to take a little bit more margin. Those points add up. She’s not an easy player. You can’t keep making errors on her.”

“After I lost that first set,” Gauff said, “I told myself: There’s a lot of the match to play.”

“Yeah, she’s the type of player where she steps in, if you give her something short, especially on the backhand side. She was doing well of attacking on that end. Even on the forehand she was being aggressive.

“I think in the second I tried to keep her playing back and off her back foot, also coming in a little bit more so she knew I wasn’t going to stay back every time she was playing defense.”

“I was playing well in the second set,” noted the teenager. “I think after the 2-3 game, yeah, I moved straight through. I think I established my game plan.

“In the third, I was playing great tennis. I think the match was really physical the first two sets even though the scoreline doesn’t show that.

“Yeah, in the third I was just trying to fight for every point. Yeah, that’s how I was able to get through that match.”

The victory sets up a match against two-time US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki for a place in the quarterfinals. Wozniacki, who retired three years ago has returned to the tour. She beat No. 11 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the second round on Wednesday night and another woman on the comeback trail, American Jennifer Brady on Friday afternoon.

On playing Wozniacki, Gauff reflected:

“I don’t think she’s going to give me anything. She’s obviously one of those players that was a great mover when she played. She got a lot of balls back, so I’m expecting long rallies.

“Also I’ve watched her last couple matches this week. I think she’s playing a little bit more aggressive I guess compared to when she was starting, before she won Australia. I think she played that tournament really well.

“Yeah, it’s going to be interesting. I never thought I would ever be in this position, especially after she retired and came back. But she’s still like a really fit player. She looked like she was striking the ball today pretty clean, especially after I was watching her match the last couple sets against Jenny.

“Yeah, it’s not going to be an easy matchup. I think she probably knows my game pretty well. I don’t know if she commentated on any of my matches. I know she’s watched tennis even when she was retired. So I’m sure she knows my game just from watching.

“I know a little bit of her just from watching her from growing up. It’s going to be really cool. I’m really excited. Playing a legend like her is really exciting. I’m not going to take the moment for granted.”