AUCKLAND, New Zealand — U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff overcame hard-hitting Czech teenager Barbara Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-0 on Thursday to increase her profitable the begin to the 12 months and the defence of her title on the Auckland Tennis Basic.
The 16-year-old Fruhvirtova got here out hitting tougher than any participant on the event to this point: producing huge energy off each arms.
She troubled Gauff at first and broke the American’s serve to like within the third sport of the primary set.
Gauff instantly broke again in a sport of 14 factors to degree the set at 2-2. After saving a break level in her subsequent service sport, Gauff broke once more to guide 4-2.
She served for the primary set at 5-3 and needed to save a break level earlier than clinching the set in 40 minutes. Fruhvirtova examined Gauff with extra excessive top-spin however Gauff got here by means of and completed the set with an ace.
Gauff instantly broke Fruhvirtova within the first sport of the second set as she started to search out extra depth in her returns. She additionally broke within the third and fifth video games and held her serve with confidence, highlighting her second service sport with a 190 kph (118 mph) ace.
Gauff needed to save two break factors as she served for the match at 5-0 however managed to allay any menace along with her sixth ace.
“I assumed I performed effectively,” Gauff mentioned. “She began very well and I used to be in a position to elevate my degree. I assumed I served and I did higher on my returns.”
Fruhvirtova got here into the match with a WTA rating of 117.
“I assumed she performed a very good match,” Gauff mentioned. “I’ve identified her since she was 10 years outdated. We used be in France, coaching on the similar academy. Her and her sister (Brenda), we grew up taking part in or coaching beside one another and it’s nice to see her on tour. I’m positive she’s going to go even additional.”
Gauff now will play eighth-seeded Varvara Gracheva of France within the quarterfinals on Friday. Gracheva beat Lulu Solar of Switzerland 6-3, 6-4.
Seventh-seeded Petra Martic despatched down six aces and transformed 4 of 9 break factors on her option to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Yuan Yue of China. Martic will play American Emma Navarro within the quarterfinals.
