Coco Gauff has message for US Open janitors after stylish win

Coco Gauff thanked her fans - including the Flushing Meadows janitors - for their support after a stress-free win at the US Open. The 2023 champion had fought back tears during and after her second-round win after sending down eight double faults.

But the No.3 seed slowed down her serve speed for a quick 6-3 6-1 win over Poland's Magdalena Frech to reach the fourth round for a fourth consecutive time.

"It's been an emotional week," Gauff said. "But I think I needed those tough moments to be able to move forward, and I was putting so much pressure on myself. But I'm really out here just trying to enjoy it and not focus so much on results but the process. And I think today it showed that I was really having fun out there.

"The support means a lot. Truly I can't put into words how privileged I feel to walk out onto this court in front of all you guys. Aloo on social media and things like that. I really appreciate every single person, down to even the staff here, the janitors, having someone say they are rooting for you every five steps when I walk into this place means a lot to me. I just hope I repay the people around me as well."

The American superstar hired sports biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan - who has helped Aryna Sabalenka - after sending down 23 double faults in Montreal last month.

She hit 10 double faults in round one, eight in round two, and four today while slowing her average first serve speed to 90mph. She made 76% of first serves and was only broken once.

Gauff, who lost in the first round of Wimbledon, said: "Today I felt I played well. It was tough playing two night matches and having to play with the shade on that side - it was kinda hard to see the ball. Overall I am really happy with how I played and to be through to the next round."

ESPN analyst Mary Jo Fernandez said: She was much calmer today - even in the warm-up. This was her best serving performance. I felt she was very smart to take a little bit off, aim a lot at the body.

"Those serves have more margin on them. Second serve was consistent - only four doubles faults - so every match is getting better and better in that department. That is going to carry over, I think, into her baseline game where she had very few unforced errors. She is back into the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year and that is pretty impress. We will see."

Gauff will next face the winner of fellow US Open champion Naomi Osaka and Australia's Russian-born No.15 seed Daria Kastkina for a place in the quarterfinals.