NEW YORK — Coco Gauff doesn’t find the fact she’s into her 12th Grand Slam quarterfinal too surprising. 

US Open: Scores | Order of play | Draws

Though it’s the first time in three years she’s back into the final eight at the US Open, the 2023 champion is — humbly — accustomed to being at this stage in tournaments. Following a 6-4, 6-1 win over Iva Jovic Monday, Gauff is primed for a US Open quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday with Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva.

“I think I just welcome it,” Gauff said on the magnitude of playing in a Grand Slam quarterfinal. “I don’t know how to say this without, like — a quarterfinal for me, I feel like I’m at the point where I’m used to being in this position. I’m constantly putting myself in quarterfinals, so the moment doesn’t seem as big anymore.

“That doesn’t mean I’m — I’m very lucky to play, be here in the quarterfinal. Obviously, I hope to play many more, so I think it’s the fine line of appreciating the moment. I think so many people would love to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, but also knowing that I put myself in this position so many times that I should almost be used to it.”

Gauff is riding high momentum, arguably the best of anyone actively. With her 1 hour and 33 minute win over Jovic, she extended her winning streak on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz to 10 matches. Furthermore, with her straight sets win, the two-time major champion has now won 20 consecutive sets, having last dropped one in her Cincinnati second round vs. Liudmila Samsonova.

Next on deck is Andreeva, an opponent that Gauff has never lost to in five meetings. Four of those five meetings have come on clay, however, with the lone on hard court coming at the 2023 US Open when Andreeva was finding her footing on tour.

To advance to the quarterfinal, Gauff handled a valiant Jovic. By the scoreline, it may have seem one-sided, but Jovic played Gauff tightly, forcing long games and rallies. The pair’s lone previous battle came on the Italian clay, where Gauff edged the younger Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in Rome’s Round of 16. Gauff would eventually progress to the final of the Internazional BNL d’Italia, falling to Elina Svitolina in the championship.

Monday’s first set would be quite opposite of what transpired in Rome, with Gauff securing it in just under 35 minutes. Despite being broken in the opening game, Gauff went on a tear by taking the next six games. At one point, from midway to the first set to 0-30 in the second set, Gauff had won 25 of 30 points against Jovic, who ultimately made the second set much more contested.

Jovic exited Arthur Ashe Stadium in slight tears, disappointed in her performance where she won just 45% of points on her serve. She was down one break before leveling at 3-3, but Gauff managed to strike back at the perfect time with a break at 5-4 with an opportunity to serve for the match. 

“It’s always great when you can play your best tennis when the points are closer and when they’re able to come back,” Gauff said. “Obviously, I would like to be up a break and stay up a break, but that’s not tennis. It’s a back-and-forth game.

“I’m doing a good job of when I maybe miss opportunities or lose some games, just keeping it in the past and focusing on the present, and I think that’s the main thing. I don’t view it as opportunities lost sometimes. I try to just view it as what to do better and just trusting that I’ll be in the same position again.”

What it means?

Since 2000, only Serena Williams (15) and Maria Sharapova (13)  have reached more Grand Slam quarterfinals than Gauff before the age of 23.
Gauff has won nine matches in a row in straight sets for the first time in her career.
The top six seeds have reached the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since 1998 — Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Jana Novotna, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Venus Williams and Monica Seles.