Coco Gauff fights back against Andreeva as Swiatek serves double bagel to Wang

Coco Gauff took her first steps on the ITF junior circuit as a precocious 13-year-old, competing against opponents five years her senior as her contemporaries played among each other. It was not until last summer that she faced a younger opponent, just a few months younger, on the elite women’s tour for the first time.

As Gauff lined up against Mirra Andreeva on Court Suzanne Lenglen, another new experience awaited. Andreeva, the first 16-year-old to reach the third round of a grand slam tournament since Gauff, is three years her junior. The gulf in experience proved a decisive factor as Gauff recovered from a tough first set to return to the fourth round with a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-1 victory.

From the beginning, Andreeva demonstrated her varied, well-rounded game by refusing to offer the same shot twice. She mixed up loopy balls with searing backhands, she looked for sharp angles and constantly hurt Gauff with her drop shots.

While Gauff successfully ground her Russian opponent down with defence, she initially struggled with her second serve and forehand. Even as she pulled back Andreeva’s 4-2 lead to serve for the set at 5-4 and 30-0, Gauff was not comfortable. They ended a tense set in a tiebreak, with Andreeva’s greater intention and fearlessness guiding her through.

The match could have ended prematurely. After losing a brilliant 19-stroke rally at 6-4 in the tiebreak, Andreeva angrily struck a ball into the stands, and received a warning. She was extremely lucky the ball did not appear to hit anyone or she would have defaulted.

One of the biggest differences between the junior and professional circuits is the fluctuations in focus and intensity that occur among the teenagers. Gauff has spent the past three years