Coco Gauff remains one of the leading American hopes at this year’s US Open, and the former champion has spoken about the expectations surrounding her in New York.

Gauff, who won the tournament in 2023, is one of five American women still in the draw at Flushing Meadows. As the second-highest ranked American woman on the WTA Tour, sitting just behind Jessica Pegula, she enters the Grand Slam with considerable attention on her results.

After beating Cristina Busca in straight sets in the third round, Gauff was asked in her post-match press conference whether the pressure she faces is similar to Alex Eala’s. Eala has drawn major support throughout the event, with the Filipino community turning out in large numbers for her matches.

Gauff said she does not see the two situations as comparable.

“I can’t empathise at all, because she’s, like, the first Filipino player to break a lot of the barriers that she’s done, especially, like, on the female side,” said Gauff.

She continued: “And when you speak of athletes from the Philippines, I mean, she’s doing similar things to what Manny Pacquiao was doing for her country.

“I’m lucky to be from the U.S., where we had a lot of icons to look up to and people who’ve already broken down doors for me to be here where I am, so I can’t really empathise on that aspect.

“I think the only way I can is maybe just, like, the hype of everybody expecting you to win every single match. I guess I can empathise on that standpoint, but I definitely think she probably has more pressure or, well, I don’t know, from the outside looking in, has more pressure.

Gauff also spoke warmly about her friendship with Eala, noting that the two have often partnered in doubles over the years.

“As far as our relationship, Alex and I are friends,” continued Gauff. “Her family just reminds me so much of mine. Like, she has a brother, and both her parents are usually with her at tournaments, and she’s just such a cool, like, nice girl, and someone I would like to get to know even more.

“We just went for dinner for the first time, actually, in Toronto, and I got to know her a little bit more. Then, and obviously, we played doubles together. But I have a lot of respect for her from what she’s doing. But yeah, I can’t really empathise. I feel like she has more pressure than I do.”

The pair have met twice on the WTA Tour, with one win each. Gauff beat Eala at the Abu Dhabi Open earlier this year, while Eala responded a month later with victory at Indian Wells.

Former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic has stepped into the growing dispute around tennis scheduling, arguing that the sport is facing criticism no matter what it does.

The debate has intensified in 2026 as players continue to speak out about a tour that many feel has become too physical and too long. That has fed renewed demands for calendar reform, while injuries to Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper have also sharpened concerns over the demands placed on the game’s leading figures. Questions around the quality of tennis balls have been part of that wider discussion.

At the US Open, late-night finishes have drawn particular attention. Venus Williams did not begin her first-round match until after midnight, while Alexander Zverev has had back-to-back finishes in the early hours of the morning. Greg Rusedski has also called for weed to be banned from Flushing Meadows after Aryna Sabalenka’s latest complaints.

Against that backdrop, former British player Mark Petchey argued that the sport’s wider momentum should not be ignored, saying tennis is “ exploding in popularity” and that more should be done to celebrate the “hardest sport in the world”.

Ljubicic, who was Roger Federer’s former coach, responded after Christopher Clarey highlighted a run of late finishes at the US Open. He tweeted, “THREE nights past 2 a.m., not the kind of record you want to be setting. Is there not a much better way for the health and well-being of everyone involved in the tournament?”

He later added, “Well we have @rolandgarros scheduling one night session match – controversial? @Wimbledon with 11pm curfew… Controversial?… Seems like whatever our sport does is controversial…”

The response to Clarey’s post was mixed, but many agreed with Ljubicic’s view. Whether the tournament makes changes now or later remains unclear, yet the issue has again placed tennis under scrutiny at one of its biggest events.

Andy Roddick believes Serena Williams may not be finished after her US Open doubles defeat alongside Venus Williams.

The sisters, whose combined age is 90, pushed Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching hard in a first-round match on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium before falling 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-7). The 14th seeds had a chance to close it out in the final-set tie-break, going 5-0 down, but Joint and Chan, who had already beaten Serena at this year’s Wimbledon in three sets, recovered strongly and left the home crowd deflated.

Serena entered Wimbledon this year with a singles wildcard, but chose not to accept one for Flushing Meadows. That left plenty of uncertainty around whether this appearance was only a brief return or the start of something more substantial for the 23-time major winner.

Roddick, however, thinks there is more to come. He said on Served, “Serena did an interview with Malika Andrews (ESPN). And she just asked her, ‘Are you going to play singles again and a major?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, I want to. I’m going to’.

“I think she’s gonna use this as a springboard… maybe this was a stress test. Can I still play? Is it still there? I think the answer is yes.

“I don’t know if tonight would deter her in any way. The movement looks good. I still think she has more in the serve, legs and shoulder and everything else. I’d bet you a dollar that she plays [in] Australia.

“I have no idea what Venus is gonna do. She is not thirsty. She doesn’t do a ton of it. She doesn’t do a ton of pressure. She just kind of loves the game. Serena… the only reason I have an opinion on it is because she said it very clearly to a very pointed and clear question.”

Roddick also felt Venus was the stronger player on the night. He added, “I think Venus was the best player on the court tonight. Venus was dominant, holding serve, attacking returns. I thought she was fantastic.

“She’s a good doubles player still. Made the [US Open] quarters with Leylah Fernandez last year. I thought she played great tonight. She hit the ball great. I thought Serena, like, weirdly, it’s almost like I think she wanted to win for Venus. But it was so fun for me to watch.”