Coco Gauff Reaches US Open Fourth Round as Keys and Anisimova Exit

Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the US Open by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-3 6-4 in New York. However, fellow Americans Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys suffered early exits on a turbulent day for home hopes, leaving five American women and five American men remaining in the singles draws.

Fantasy & Market Impact

Gauff Navigates Pressure to Reach Fifth Second Week

Coco Gauff continues to demonstrate tactical maturity on her home hard courts. The 22-year-old maintained her bid for a second New York title by overcoming Cristina Bucsa 6-3 6-4. Gauff, who claimed her breakthrough major success in 2023, is through to the second week at Flushing Meadows for the fifth successive year.

After dropping an early deficit in the first set and responding instantly to a service break in the second, Gauff showcased the baseline resilience expected of a top-tier contender. “I feel like I’m used to getting to the second week now. I woke up today and I was like ‘oh we’re already in round three’,” Gauff stated. She will next face 14th seed Iva Jovic in a high-stakes domestic fourth-round clash.

Tactical Breakdown & Statistical Form

But the wider American contingent experienced starkly contrasting fortunes across the grounds.

Player	Tournament Stage	Result	Next Opponent / Notes
Coco Gauff	Round 3	Won (6-3, 6-4) vs. Cristina Bucsa	Faces Iva Jovic in Round 4
Madison Keys	Round 3	Lost (1-6, 7-6, 7-5) vs. Zheng Qinwen	Vowed to make changes following collapse from 5-0 lead
Amanda Anisimova	Round 3	Lost in straight sets vs. Anastasia Potapova	Exits following strong run as last year’s finalist
Iva Jovic	Round 3	Won (7-5, 3-6, 7-5) vs. Alexandra Eala	Advances to face Coco Gauff

Keys and Anisimova Suffer Dramatic Exits

While Gauff marches forward, the upper tier of American women’s tennis absorbed heavy blows. Madison Keys appeared poised to secure a commanding victory against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, holding a 5-0 lead in the third set. However, a stunning collapse saw Keys drop the final seven games to lose 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.

Photo: sports.yahoo.com

Keys offered a remarkably honest assessment of the psychological hurdles she faced on court. “I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I got really scared, like I couldn’t swing [the racquet],” Keys said. “I felt like I couldn’t play tennis anymore. It just felt like it was a much bigger deal than just playing a tennis match all of a sudden.” Keys admitted she has been struggling for a sustained period and intends to implement structural changes to her career moving forward.

Meanwhile, last year’s US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova also exited the tournament. Anisimova fell in straight sets to Russian-born Austrian 24th seed Anastasia Potapova. The 25-year-old struggled to maintain service consistency, dropping her serve twice in the opening set and four times in a turbulent second set.

The Road Ahead for the Domestic Draw

Despite the high-profile casualties, American representation remains robust in the tournament’s second week. Alongside Gauff and Jovic, Jessica Pegula, Taylor Townsend, and Emma Navarro ensure five American women populate the Round of 16. The men’s draw mirrors this competitive depth, with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Alex Michelsen, and Learner Tien all securing their places in the fourth round.

As the tournament transitions into its defining phase, Gauff’s ability to manage expectations will dictate her championship ceiling. Having learned hard lessons from her fourth-round exits in previous seasons, the 2025 French Open champion appears better equipped to handle the rigorous demands of a fortnight in New York.

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