Coco Gauff Advances to Fourth Round at 2026 US Open

Gauff Continues Strong Run in New York

American tennis star Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the 2026 US Open on Saturday, defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. 4 seed and 2023 US Open champion faced a competitive challenge from Bucsa, ranked No. 40 in the world, particularly during the opening set.

Gauff had to work through several difficult moments before settling into the form that carried her through her first two rounds, both straight-set victories at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff ultimately regained control of the match and closed out the second set 6-4, winning the final game at love to secure her place in the fourth round.

Battle-Tested Gauff Moving Forward

The victory continues what has been a strong tournament for Gauff, who has already shown her ability to handle pressure during this year’s US Open.

Bucsa also entered the match with plenty of experience under pressure. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who is also ranked No. 20 in doubles, survived a grueling second-round match against Himeno Sakatsume that featured three tiebreak sets and lasted more than three hours.

Gauff has faced her own tests during the tournament, most notably in her second-round battle with Paula Badosa. Badosa pushed the No. 4 seed to a tense third-set tiebreak before Gauff eventually prevailed.

Next Opponent Awaits

Gauff will next face the winner of the match between No. 17 seed Alexandra Eala and No. 14 seed American Iva Jovic. The matchup could provide another intriguing challenge for Gauff, particularly with Eala and Jovic being close friends despite competing against each other on the biggest stage.

Gauff and Eala are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record, with both of their previous meetings coming on hard courts this year. Gauff has also faced Jovic once, defeating the American in a three-set match in Rome earlier this year.

Bucsa Continues in Doubles

Although her singles run has ended at the fourth round, Bucsa will remain active at the US Open in doubles. She is part of the No. 6-seeded doubles team alongside American Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

For Gauff, meanwhile, the focus now shifts toward another opportunity to make a deep run at the tournament where she captured her first Grand Slam championship three years ago.