NEW YORK – Coco Gauff is entering a crucial phase in her title defense.

The 20-year-old, who won the US Open last year, believes the pressure she faced last year was greater than what she feels now, despite her game being a bit off this season.

“I really don’t have anything to lose,” Gauff stated in her post-match interview after a win over Germany’s Tatjana Maria. “At 20, having already won one title, I know I have the ability to achieve more, whether it’s this year or in the future.”

It’s uncertain if Gauff has truly regained her form in New York, as her opponents in the first two rounds haven’t posed a significant challenge. Even though she struggled at times during the opening set, she secured it against Maria and then played much better, finishing with a 6-4, 6-0 win.

However, the competition becomes much tougher from here. In the third round, Gauff will face No. 27 seed Elina Svitolina, who has reached the semifinals and quarterfinals in her last three US Open appearances. While Svitolina has shown some inconsistency since her top-five rankings between 2017 and 2021, her high-level performance and ability to handle lengthy rallies could be challenging for Gauff.

They have only faced each other twice, with Gauff winning their last encounter in January at the Auckland final, which lasted over two hours.

Here’s a summary of the key moments from Day 3 at the US Open:

Match of the Day

Andrey Rublev, known for his emotional gameplay, managed to stay composed. However, it was the heat that tested him.

On the hottest day of the tournament, with temperatures hitting 90 degrees, Rublev resorted to ice packs and cooling machines to stay refreshed. Near the end of a grueling match, having come back from two sets down, he required medical attention for stomach issues.

After a lengthy battle of 4 hours and 6 minutes, Rublev triumphed over France’s Arthur Rinderknech, winning 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Rinderknech exhausted all his energy in the first two sets.

Rublev, seeded sixth, has reached ten Grand Slam quarterfinals, with four at the US Open, but has yet to reach a semifinal.

Upset of the Day

Barbora Krejcikova’s results have been unpredictable. After winning the French Open in 2021, she faced early exits in her subsequent appearances. Despite having won Wimbledon this year unexpectedly, her performances at the US Open have been lackluster.

Krejcikova’s inconsistent year continued with a surprising second-round loss to Romania’s No. 122-ranked Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 6-4, 7-5. Although Krejcikova entered the tournament with a thigh injury and had not competed since the French Open, she was still favored to win. It may be that her commitments post-Wimbledon finally caught up with her.

Non-upset Upset of the Day

Peyton Stearns, a 22-year-old who previously won the NCAA championship at Texas, is a player many believe should be seeded at Grand Slams; however, that hasn’t happened yet. Ranked No. 47 heading into the tournament, she was someone no seed wanted to face.

Daria Kasatkina, the No. 12 seed, quickly learned why as Stearns defeated her convincingly with a score of 6-1, 7-6.

Earlier this year, Kasatkina narrowly defeated Stearns in a three-set match at the Australian Open, but since then, Stearns has gained confidence on the WTA Tour, claiming a title in Morocco and reaching the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event in Canada. She will now face Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic in the next round.

Big American Showdown Looms

After both won their matches on Wednesday, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will meet on Friday in the third round. Shelton, the 13th seed, beat Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets, while 20th-seeded Tiafoe was winning against Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 when Shevchenko retired.

The two Americans had faced each other in last year’s US Open quarterfinals, where Shelton won in an upset.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Shelton said. “These are the matches I thrive on; they energize me. Playing a little earlier in the draw doesn’t change the excitement. It feels monumental, and I’m eager to be on the court with him. He’s beloved by the crowd here, maybe more than I am. We’re friends, and it’ll be a fierce competition, just like our last two meetings, but I’m excited to battle it out again.”

Last year, Tiafoe felt the pressure of trying to replicate his semifinal performance from 2022, which led to a lackluster showing against Shelton. This time, the dynamics are reversed: Shelton is now seen as the favorite after his impressive run last year.

After a challenging year, he has begun to regain his form in recent weeks, highlighted by a close five-set match against Carlos Alcaraz during the third round of Wimbledon.

“Waiting for this tournament all year is tough,” Tiafoe expressed before the US Open kicked off. “I’m really excited. It’s marked on my calendar every year. I truly enjoy these two weeks and playing tennis in the U.S. after Wimbledon. There’s no better time for me.”

Making a Mark with His Serve

When discussing the top servers in men’s tennis, American Brandon Nakashima’s name isn’t often mentioned. However, this season, his serving has proven to be exceptional.

As noted by Gill Gross from Tennis Channel on social media, Nakashima stands at No. 8 among the top 50 players regarding how frequently he has held serve this year. While his serve may not be the fastest, he has successfully blended accurate placement with the ability to seal points after the return.

This ability has continued through his first two matches in New York. In his recent victory against Arthur Cazaux, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, Nakashima faced only two break points, saving all six break points in his impressive first-round match against Holger Rune. Throughout the tournament, Nakashima has made 67% of his first serves and recorded 23 aces.

Nakashima is set to meet No. 18 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. Musetti has been in excellent form recently, making it to the Wimbledon semifinals and earning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Exciting Matches on Thursday

• Two-time champion Naomi Osaka takes on last year’s semifinalist Karolina Muchova
• No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula goes against Sofia Kenin, an unseeded American who won the Australian Open in 2020
• No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz competes with Australian Jordan Thompson