After Coco Gauff overcame a tenacious Elise Mertens in the third round, there was an audible murmur in the crowd when on-court interviewer Pam Shriver revealed her next US Open opponent would be Caroline Wozniacki.
Shriver described it as “the battle of two generations”, and it’s scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“A match-up I never thought I would have to play,” Gauff laughed in reply.
“When she retired, I remember I might have said to her, or in an interview, I was like, ‘oh I wish I would have played her’. So that wish came true! So I’m really excited.
“I don’t know, is it really a battle of the generations? She’s still, like, fit, and going strong, so I think that it’s going to be an exciting match.”
You could argue it is precisely that type of battle, given it positions a 19-year-old rising star against a 33-year-old mother-of-two on the comeback trail.
You could also argue Gauff and Wozniacki are the two biggest stars, and protagonists in the two most significant storylines, of the entire women’s tournament.
Gauff could be considered the face of this year’s US Open, playing two of her three matches in prime-time on Ashe, and entering the event as the game’s most in-form player. Adding to her star power, she’s now working with American supercoach Brad Gilbert.
She has won 14 of her past 15 matches since Wimbledon, and is riding an eight-match winning streak.
Cross-over stars
She might not be the American No.1 – that would be her doubles partner Jessica Pegula, also into the last 16 – but Gauff’s profile is bigger, as a teen phenom who has already reached a Grand Slam final.
She is an increasingly transcendent star, meeting Barack and Michelle Obama after her first-round victory, and being watched on by Justin and Hailey Bieber, and Jimmy Butler, during her win over Mertens on Friday night.
Speaking of players with mainstream consciousness, that would also be Wozniacki, who announced her professional tennis comeback in a first-person essay for Vogue, accompanied by a stylish photo-shoot.
The Dane, a former world No.1 and Australian Open 2018 champion, had not played in three-and-a-half years before returning during the North American summer season.
But as vanquished second-round opponent Petra Kvitova noted, it seems like she has never been away.
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Wozniacki has been inspired by several successful comebacks by other tennis mothers. Perhaps most instructively, Kim Clijsters won the 2009 US Open in just her third tournament back – notably over Wozniacki in the final. Then there is good friend Serena Williams, who reached two US Open finals after giving birth to daughter Olympia in 2017.
Eyes on each other
Wozniacki is now enjoying her own renaissance, winning four of six matches so far – most recently a come-from-behind victory over AO 2021 finalist Jennifer Brady which showcased her extraordinary fitness and consistency.
Gauff noted this again in her post-match press conference, having watched Wozniacki unwind Brady.
“It's not going to be an easy matchup,” Gauff said.
“I think she probably knows my game pretty well. I don't know if she commentated on any of my matches. I know she's watched tennis even when she was retired. So I'm sure she knows my game just from watching.”
Indeed, Wozniacki is well aware of the young American’s successes throughout her imperious summer.
“What an amazing couple of months she’s had,” Wozniacki observed.
“She won Cincinnati, she’s been playing so well. So it’s going to be a tough one.”
Hard to separate
Their first ever meeting promises to be a compelling duel, because both players do the same things exceptionally well.
Gauff and Wozniacki are both notable for their supreme physical conditioning, defensive skills and movement, plus excellent backhands. While their forehands are their weaker shots, they’re working on being more offensive from this wing, and adopting a more aggressive mindset generally.
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They are no strangers to the second week at majors, including the US Open, where Gauff was a quarterfinalist last year. Wozniacki has been even more impressive in New York, reaching two finals (2009, 2014) and three semifinals (2010, 2011, 2016).
For Gauff, victory would put her a step closer to a first major singles title, and becoming the first home-grown winner in six years.
For Wozniacki, a win of this stature would both validate her comeback decision and provide a glittering marker in her successful return.
“I don't think she's going to give me anything,” Gauff said.
“I know a little bit of her just from watching her from growing up. It's going to be really cool. I'm really excited. Playing a legend like her is really exciting.
“I'm not going to take the moment for granted.”