US Open: Coco Gauff advances past Mirra Andreeva to third round

Coco Gauff of the United States plays a backhand against Mirra Andreeva during their Women`s Singles Second Round match on Day Two of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Pic/AFP

America's No.6 seed Coco Gauff got the better of fellow teenager Mirra Andreeva for the second time in a Grand Slam this year, winning 6-3, 6-2 in 75 minutes with a near-flawless performance to reach the third round of the US Open, here on Wednesday.

The result puts Gauff into the third round at Flushing Meadows for the third time in five appearances, and for the third time in a major this year. The American, a champion in Cincinnati two weeks ago, extends her winning streak to seven matches, the third-longest at tour level of her career so far.

The 19-year-old Gauff previously defeated 16-year-old Andreeva 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1 in the third round of Roland Garros on the latter's Grand Slam debut.

The pair are two of the four highest-ranked teenagers on the WTA rankings, with No.63-ranked Andreeva behind only Gauff and two Czech 18-year-olds, Linda Noskova and Linda Fruhvirtova -- the latter of whom she is guaranteed to overtake after the US Open.

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Meanwhile, two-time US Open Champion Venus Williams made an early exit after getting knocked out in the first round of the tournament. Venus, 43, lost to qualifier Greet Minnen of Belgium in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, on Tuesday. Williams was disappointed with the result and attributed it to bad luck.

"First, I have to give credit to my opponent. There wasn't a shot she couldn't make," Venus told reporters.

"Even when I hit really amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a drop shot, so I don't think I played badly. I think it was just one of those days where it's just unlucky," added the seven-time Grand Slam champion, who was playing here for the first time without her legendary sister Serena.

(With AP inputs)