Shuai Zhang and Coco Gauff meet in the fourth round of the 2022 tennis US Open.
Shuai Zhang is coming off a straight set win over Rebecca Marino that took 18 games to decide. In the victory, Zhang won 73 percent of her first serve points and 54 percent of her second serve points. Zhang won 69 percent of her total service points and converted on 3 of her 8 break points. Zhang got 78 percent of her first serves in play and didn’t face a break point. Zhang’s last 4 wins have come in straight sets. Zhang looks to make her third career grand slam quarterfinal and first since the 2019 Wimbledon. Zhang has never made a quarterfinal in the US Open. Zhang has won 7 of her last 9 matches on hard court.
Coco Gauff is coming off a straight set win over Madison Keys that took 17 games to decide. In the victory, Gauff won 69 percent of her first serve points and 41 percent of her second serve points. Gauff won 60 percent of her total service points and converted on 5 of her 9 break points. Gauff got 68 percent of her first serves in play and saved 1 of her 3 break points. Gauff hasn’t dropped a set this tournament and looks to win 4 straight matches for the first time since making the final in the French Open. Gauff looks to make her third career grand slam quarterfinal and first in the US Open. Gauff has won 6 of her last 8 matches on hard court.
Gauff won the only meeting against Zhang, which was this year in Miami. The match was decided in straight sets and 25 games.
Zhang is capable of stealing this match when she’s playing at her best level, but this is asking a lot. Not only has Gauff been one of the most consistent players on tour this year, but she has the American crowd behind her, which will be in full force now that Serena is out of the picture. It’s going to be tough for Zhang to pull this off.
Look for Gauff to make the quarters in New York for the first time.