Coco Gauff found herself in a tense third-set against Czech craftmaster Karolina Muchova for the first time in the pair’s five meetings, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
True to form, the 21-year-old American, who had won the first nine sets played against Muchova before dropping the middle set, held her nerve and delivered her 21st career three-set victory at the Grand Slams, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Gauff improves to 21-6 in three-setters at the majors (ESPN reports that this winning percentage is the third-highest all-time on the women’s side), and reaches her third consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal. Her overall record in Melbourne improves to 20-6.
“I don’t get tired yet,” Gauff said. “I’m 21, maybe that’s why.”
It’s more than that.
Gauff’s ability to remain poised and focus on the task at hand has always been there for her, and it was front and center again today as she fought through a final set, taking her opportunity to break for 3-1, then later saving a break point to hold for 5-2. The two-time major champion held her serve two games later, serving out the win in one hour and fifty-nine minutes.
She was pleased with her serve, one of the areas of improvement that could take her game to an even higher level in 2026.
“I felt today was great, maybe one loose service game in the second set,” Gauff said. “But after that it was pretty good but I’m happy that I was able to close it on my racquet.”
A crisp backhand rally helped Gauff get to her fourth match point in a dicey final game that featured three deuces.
“She always can rely on that backhand,” said Chris Evert, who was commentating the match for ESPN. “Under pressure, whatever, it’s always there for her.”
Gauff will face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals (Gauff leads the head-to-head, 2-1). Three more American women – Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova will bid for the quarterfinals on Day 9 in Melbourne.
A potentially great omen for the American: Gauff improves to 5-0 overall against Muchova, and each time she has defeated Muchova in the past, she has gone on to win the title.
