Coco Gauff overcame a slow start to defeat fellow American Hailey Baptiste in three sets, advancing to the Australian Open fourth round.
MELBOURNE: Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to defeat compatriot Hailey Baptiste 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the Australian Open third round.
The third seed was broken twice in a shaky opening set against the world number 70.
Gauff then raised her level dramatically, winning the second set without dropping a game before securing a decisive break in the sixth game of the final set.
“Honestly, I didn’t change too much,” Gauff said on court after the match.
“I was able to raise my level and I’m happy with how I stayed mentally calm through that.”
Baptiste provided a stern test for the two-time Grand Slam champion before her challenge faded in the second set.
Gauff will next face Czech 19th seed Karolina Muchova for a place in the quarter-finals.
Before leaving the court, Gauff addressed a fan whose support she felt had been disrespectful to her opponent.
“Hailey’s a great competitor, so to the guy who made that comment, we’re all doing our best out here…. Let’s all be respectful,” she said to cheers from the crowd.
