Cristina Bucsa fights hard but cannot overcome Coco Gauff

Cristina Bucsa gave Coco Gauff a fight, but the American’s greater experience and ranking eventually prevailed. Gauff won 6-3, 6-4 in less than an hour and a half.

The gap between the players was clear on paper. Gauff, 22, has two Grand Slam titles, including the 2025 French Open, and won her only title of the year in Cincinnati. She has 12 career titles and sits fourth in the rankings, making her the second-highest-ranked American.

Bucsa, 28, won her first title this season in Mérida. Her best Grand Slam result came on these courts last year, when she reached the round of 16. The Spaniard is ranked 40th, although she reached No. 30 in March.

The challenge was even greater because Bucsa had needed more than three hours to beat Sakatsume in the previous round, despite having a day of rest afterward.

Gauff’s serve proved decisive, even though it initially threatened to undermine her. She committed four double faults in the first eight games, giving Bucsa an early break. Gauff recovered in the sixth game and broke again in the eighth to take the opening set.

Her service has improved this season after work with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan. Gauff has shifted from simply trying to land her serve to attacking for aces, and she has reached 201 kph at the tournament. That approach carries risk, and double-fault problems briefly resurfaced against Bucsa.

Gauff imposed her speed and aggression in the second set, moving Bucsa from side to side. Bucsa matched her in long rallies and came forward without hesitation on serve, keeping the set level at 3-3. The players exchanged breaks, but Gauff broke again at love with a strong return, a lob that Bucsa sent long, a volley winner and a backhand winner. She then served out the match.