New York, August 29, 2025 — Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, broke down in tears and shared a raw emotional confession after surviving a grueling 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-5 second-round thriller against Donna Vekic at the 2025 US Open on August 28. The three-hour battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium, marked by Gauff’s serving struggles and visible distress, culminated in a heartfelt moment where she credited the crowd and Simone Biles for pulling her through, as she advances to face Elina Svitolina in the third round (*Sportskeeda.com*, August 29, 2025).
Gauff’s Emotional Breakdown and Confession
Trailing 4-4 in the first set, Gauff was broken after a double fault, leading to tears and a moment of despair as she covered her face with a towel (*Tennis.com*). “It’s been a tough couple weeks,” she revealed post-match, citing nerves, pressure, and a recent coaching change to biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan as factors. “I was just happy to get through it,” she added, pausing as tears welled up (*The Athletic*, August 28, 2025). Gauff, who served 11 double faults and 61 unforced errors, drew strength from the Arthur Ashe crowd, saying, “You guys bring me so much joy. I’m doing this for myself, but also for you” (*@usopen, August 29, 2025). She also acknowledged Biles’ presence, noting, “If she can perform on a six-inch beam, I can hit a ball in this court” (*Sportskeeda.com*). Fans on X were moved, with one post stating, “Coco’s tears and heart are why we love her!” (@CocoGauffFan, August 28, 2025).
Match Context and Resilience
Gauff’s win avenged her 2024 Paris Olympics loss to Vekic, who pushed her with aggressive play and four breaks of serve (*Hindustan Times*). Despite 320 double faults this season, Gauff’s athleticism and a crucial forehand winner at 5-4 in the third set secured the victory (*USOpen.org*). Her emotional confession highlighted the mental toll of her serve reconstruction, with MacMillan aiming to fix her 6.8 double-fault average per match (*ProFootballNetwork.com*). Vekic, ranked No. 49, showed resilience but faltered in the tiebreak, allowing Gauff to reach her fourth straight US Open third round (*The Athletic*).
