New York, August 29, 2025** — Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, fought back tears on-court during a tense second-round match against Donna Vekic at the 2025 US Open, as the Croatian’s relentless play pushed the American to the brink. Despite visible frustration and serving struggles, Gauff rallied to win 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-5 in a three-hour thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium, advancing to the third round but exposing the emotional toll of her ongoing serve reconstruction (*The Athletic*, August 28, 2025).
## Emotional Struggles Amid Vekic’s Challenge
Gauff, ranked No. 3, faced a barrage of pressure from Vekic, who capitalized on the American’s 11 double faults and 61 unforced errors (*USOpen.org*). Early in the second set, Gauff’s frustration peaked after a double fault handed Vekic a break point, prompting her to raise her arms in exasperation and wipe away tears between points (*The Athletic*). “I was trembling,” Gauff admitted post-match, citing the internal battle with her new serve motion under coach Gavin MacMillan (*Tennis.com*). Vekic, ranked No. 49, fought back from a set down, winning the second-set tiebreak with aggressive forehands and drop shots, rattling Gauff further (*ProFootballNetwork.com*). Yet, Gauff’s athleticism shone in the third set, where a forehand winner at 5-4 sealed a crucial break, and she served out the match (*Sportskeeda.com*).
## Fan Reactions and Context
Fans on X were gripped by the drama, with one post stating, “Coco crying but still fighting through? That’s champion mentality!” (@CocoGauffFan, August 28, 2025). Another noted, “Vekic pushed her to the edge, but Coco’s heart won it” (@TennisVibes, August 28, 2025). Gauff’s emotional display echoed her 2024 Paris Olympics loss to Vekic, where a disputed call left her in tears (*Hindustan Times*, July 30, 2024). Her 35-12 season record, including a French Open title, contrasts with persistent serving woes—320 double faults in 47 matches—prompting her to hire MacMillan (*The Athletic*, August 20, 2025). Vekic, fresh off a comeback win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, showcased her 3-9 record against top-10 players (*SportsMole.co.uk*).
