US Open 2024: Coco Gauff beats Elina Svitolina to enter pre-quarterfinals

Coco Gauff was not aware that she'd lost five consecutive matches against opponents ranked in the top 50. She was not sure exactly how many points in a row she'd dropped 11, it turns out to give away the first set against Elina Svitolina in the U.S. Open's third round on Friday.

Here, then, is what was entirely clear to Gauff at that moment: I needed a reset. So before the second set, the 20-year-old from Florida went to the bathroom, changed part of her outfit and splashed water on her face. Then Gauff went back on court and extended the defense of her first Grand Slam title by turning things around to beat the 27th-seeded Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Felt like a new person coming out, the third-seeded Gauff said. I just didn't want to leave the court with any regrets.

Novak Djokovic, the other defending champion, was shocked in the third round with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin. Popyrin will face No. 20 seed France Tiafoe, who outlasted 13th-seeded Ben ...