Gauff cruises past Frech to enter last 16

FOR the first time at this U.S. Open, Coco Gauff didn't double-fault in her first service game. And for the first time, she didn't get broken to begin things, either.

- HOWARD FENDRICH

With her work-in-progress serve looking the best it has so far in this trip to Flushing Meadows, the No. 3-seeded Gauff turned in by far her most solid — and stress-free — performance Saturday, defeating No. 28 Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-3, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of a tournament she won in 2023. "It's been like an emotional week...but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward," said Gauff, who will face Naomi Osaka or Daria Kasatkina on Monday. "I was putting too much pressure on myself."