Coco Gauff hails ‘incredible’ spirit among US players at the Australian Open after 14 Americans made the third round of the singles… with Pegula and Korda among the stars who could go all the way (but it’s the end of the road for Tiafoe!)
- Eight men and six women made the third round of the Australian Open singles
- Some have since been knocked out, but a strong contingent are still standing
- Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Sebastian Korda are among the top-seeded stars
- Gauff has praised mentality and ‘incredible’ spirit of US players in locker room
- Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com
Coco Gauff said the camaraderie and desire among American players to improve collectively is the driving force behind their impressive showing at this year’s Australian Open.
U.S. players appear to have carried their form from their victory in the inaugural United Cup mixed team tournament earlier this month into the Melbourne Park Grand Slam.
Gauff, who beat compatriot Bernarda Pera 6-3 6-2 on Friday, is among a number of American women to have made it to the third round, but Danielle Collins and Madison Keys were eliminated.
Coco Gauff celebrates during her Australian Open third round victory over Bernarda Pera
Sebastian Korda produced one of the shocks of the third round by beating Daniil Medvedev
WHO’S STILL STANDING?
Men’s singles (third round)
Sebastian Korda (29) – BEAT Daniil Medvedev (7)
Mackenzie McDonald – LOST to Yoshihito Nishioka (31)
Frances Tiafoe (16) – LOST to Karen Khachanov (18)
Ben Shelton – to play Australian wildcard Alexei Popyrin
And there are two other all-American ties, with JJ Wolf facing Michael Mmoh and Tommy Paul taking on Jenson Brooksby
Women’s singles (third round)
Coco Gauff (7) – BEAT fellow American Bernarda Pera
Jessica Pegula (3) – BEAT Marta Kostyuk
Madison Keys (10) – LOST to Victoria Azarenka (24)
Danielle Collins (13) – LOST to Elena Rybakina (22)
Katie Volynets (Q) – to play Shuai Zhang
The country’s hopes have also been rekindled in the men’s singles draw, with eight players in the third round, though Mackenzie McDonald lost to Yoshihito Nishioka and Frances Tiafoe was eliminated by Karen Khachanov.
There was a huge result for Sebastian Korda though, with the American hotspot battling past seventh seed Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to get to the fourth round for the first time in his career.
There are also two more guaranteed Americans in the fourth round, with JJ Wolff facing off against his compatriot Michael Mmpoh, while two other US players go head-to-head in the form of Tommy Paul and Jenson Brooksby.
Elsewhere, Ben Shelton is still standing, and faces Australian wildcard Alexei Popyrin, meaning there could be an incredible five American men’s players in the fourth round of the tournament.
No male U.S. player has captured a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.
‘I definitely think on the men’s side they’re thriving really. It’s like eight people in the round of 32 I saw. I think it’s incredible,’ Gauff told reporters on Friday.
‘That would be pretty cool if an American woman and guy could win the same slam. I definitely think the guys are feeling it. I think it really comes from, not the women, but the same dynamic, where everybody is doing well, so it makes you want to do well.
‘We’re all not competing with each other, but pushing each other. I think that’s what the men are having… I’m pretty sure all the American guys get along, at least that’s what I think.’
Frances Tiafoe waved goodbye to the Australian Open with a loss to Karen Khachanov
Madison Keys also bowed out, losing to 24th seed Victoria Azarenka at Melbourne Park
Gauff added that the men’s and women’s players had forged a strong relationship that extended beyond tennis.
‘I always look forward to the joint events,’ Gauff said.
‘When they’re playing, I look at the draw and I’m happy they’re in the draw. We went mini golfing the other night. It’s something I want to do more at more tournaments especially.’
Gauff next faces Latvian Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday.
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