Gauff, undefeated in ’25, advances to third round with win over Burrage

MELBOURNE, Australia – Coco Gauff extended her unbeaten start to 2025 to seven matches and 14 sets by entering the third round of Australian Open with a 6-3, 7-5 win over 173rd-ranked Jodie Burrage of Great Britain at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and semi-finalist at Melbourne Park a year ago, endured a bit of a rough patch in the second set, battling double faults and losing four straight games to go from a break up 3-1 to a breakdown of 5-3.

But when Burrage served in the second set, Gauff regained control, using a four-game run of his own to end the contest.

“It was tough. She was earning really well, so I was just trying to cope, honestly,” no. 3-seeded Gauff said. “She really stepped up in the middle of the second set, so I just tried to be offensive when I could.”

Gauff hit six of her seven double faults in the second set, but was far steadier at the baseline overall, finishing the 1 1/2-hour match with 11 unforced errors on the ground compared to 37 for Burrage.

Each of Burrage’s last two service games ended with a double fault; there were two straight to make it 6-5.

From there, Gauff finished the job as she continues to try to find improvements with her serve and forehand, two shots she has focused on since the end of last season.

“She returned well, so that put pressure on me on my serve,” Gauff said. “If I landed any card, she landed a winner.”

Add four straight wins en route to the title at the WTA Finals in November – including straight set wins over No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and no. 2 Iga Swiatek – and Gauff’s winning streak is now 11 games.

Part of that run was also a victory in the United Cup team competition against the 20-year-old American’s next opponent: no. 30 Leylah Fernandez, who was runner-up to Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open.

Fernandez came back to defeat Cristina Bucsa 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.