Coco Gauff is aiming for a successful title defense at the US Open. The young talent has some tough walls to knock down first, starting with her second-round opponent Tatjana Maria. The German, who has breezed the Flushing Meadows Slam notably after six years of reaching the stage, will not hold back a shot that helps further her agenda. As the duo battles it out on-court, an intriguing fact about the players that have caught the tennis world’s attention.

The former World No. 42 and Gauff share a gigantic age difference. The No. 3 seed, who is aged 20 has an age gap of 17 years with Maria – the latter being 37 years old. So much so, that the German’s eldest daughter Charlotte, is merely 9 years younger than the reigning New York champion. To put it into perspective, the American wasn’t born when Maria stepped into her first ITF tournament.

Astonishingly, the No. 3 seed was a mere toddler when the veteran made her WTA main draw debut in 2006. This, by far, shows how players aged far beyond Gauff’s age possess the formidability to thwart her dream run, causing more challenges in her title defense.

Just for clarity, Maria isn’t unknown to the sport. Many could’ve forgotten her existence, owing to her maternity hiatus wherein she welcomed her second daughter Celia (3 years old) in 2022. However, the same year marked her laudable comeback. The German stormed the sport by reaching the last four of Wimbledon. Later that season, the World No. 99 secured a semifinal spot in Seoul, assisting her to bag the 2022 WTA Comeback Player of the Year.

For those unaware, the then-19-year-old Coco Gauff became the second youngest athlete, after Serena Williams, to bag the hardcourt Slam’s crown last year. As of now, the duo showcases their talent at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, wherein the American leads the 37-year-old with a one-set advantage. This, in turn, might be disheartening for Maria and her eldest daughter.

Coco Gauff finesses Tatjana Maria in a class action at the US Open

Coco Gauff has ended Tatjana Maria’s New York run. You heard that right, an out-of-form Gauff has sent the German vet packing, showcasing her determination to defend the title. The first set of the duel saw the young talent struggle. Her serves weren’t causing enough damage, prompting Maria to take advantage of the openings and break her. Though the No. 3 seed bagged the opening set, 6-3, a notable turnaround came in the second.

Gauff found her pace and readily worked on her momentum. The 20-year-old finessed the German veteran without losing any games in the second set. She made a short work of her opponent, concluding the contest with a score line of 6-4, 6-0. While Gauff has prevailed, Maria’s 11-year-old daughter won’t be pleased with the result. After all, she was rooting for her mother in New York and now, her prayers have been unsung by the American.

With this, Gauff has secured a spot in the event’s third round. Exhibiting a change in her performances, there’s hope for the young star to redeem herself for the string of losses she’s incurred in the past two months.