Coco Gauff reached the fourth round of the 2026 US Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain's Cristina Bucsa on September 5 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The American No. 4 seed recovered from an uneven opening, including an early break of serve, and completed the match without dropping a set.
The score looks routine, but the contest required Gauff to solve an opponent who changed pace, moved forward and repeatedly tested her touch around the net. Gauff's ability to win without her cleanest serving performance is an important sign as the tournament moves into its second week.
Gauff vs Bucsa result
- Winner: Coco Gauff
- Score: 6-3, 6-4
- Round: Women's singles third round
- Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York
- Tournament: 2026 US Open
Gauff entered as a clear favourite but fell behind 3-1 in the first set. Bucsa used changes of direction and well-timed approaches to prevent the American from settling into a predictable baseline rhythm.
The response was decisive. Gauff recovered the break, forced longer exchanges and closed the set 6-3. The second set again contained breaks of serve, but she secured the final hold at love to finish the match in straight sets.
The serve was both problem and solution
Gauff's serve remains one of the central stories of her tournament. Its pace gives her access to quick points, yet double faults can create pressure in games that should otherwise be controlled.
Against Bucsa, the serve briefly became a liability. Gauff produced multiple double faults in a difficult first-set game and did not always convert the opportunities she created on return. She nevertheless found her strongest deliveries when she needed to close the match.
That pattern matters because second-week opponents will punish repeated second serves more aggressively. Gauff does not need to remove all risk from the motion; she needs a reliable middle setting that keeps her out of extended service games when the first serve is not landing.
Why Bucsa made the match uncomfortable
Bucsa is an experienced doubles player who is comfortable moving inside the court. Her volleys and angled shots forced Gauff to defend more than the scoreline suggests. Rather than offering a steady sequence of baseline balls, she asked different questions from one rally to the next.
Gauff's speed helped neutralise some of those patterns, but the match also showed the value of patience. Trying to pass at full power from every defensive position would have increased the error count. By extending points and making Bucsa hit additional volleys, Gauff gradually shifted the pressure back across the net.
What the victory means for Gauff
Gauff won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in 2023, so every New York run carries expectations that go beyond an ordinary tournament. She is now back in the final 16 and has reached that stage while managing imperfect moments rather than depending on flawless tennis.
Her movement remains a major advantage on the hard courts, and her forehand has held up under opponents trying to direct play to that side. The next challenge is maintaining aggression without allowing service problems to interrupt momentum.
The wider women's draw contains several established champions and rising contenders. Our US Open 2026 draw and key matchups guide tracks how those sections have developed, while the US Open schedule and viewing guide contains the tournament timetable.
What happens next
At the time of the official post-match report, Gauff's fourth-round opponent was due to come from the meeting between Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic. Readers should check the official draw for the confirmed matchup and session time, because US Open scheduling can change after the daily order of play is released.
The tactical priorities are clearer than the timetable: improve the first-serve percentage, protect second serves and keep using depth to create shorter balls. If Gauff does those things, her speed and defensive range will make her difficult to remove from the draw.
Follow the rest of the tournament in our Sports section and read how Ben Shelton reached the US Open Round of 16 in the men's draw.
The score and match details were verified through the official US Open report. The next-round schedule should be confirmed from the official order of play.
