Title: Coco Gauff Leads Three U.S. Contenders in Australian Open Quarterfinals
Eight women still stand in the 2025 Australian Open, with three of them hailing from the United States. This group includes the third-seeded sensation, Coco Gauff, alongside No. 8 Emma Navarro and 19th-seeded Madison Keys. The last American to triumph in Melbourne was Sofia Kenin back in 2020.
Gauff, at just 20 years old, aims to build on her scorching start to the season as she takes on No. 11 Paula Badosa of Spain at 7:30 ET on Monday night. ESPN's Rennae Stubbs considers Gauff an equal favorite to claim the title, stating, "Clearly [two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka] has let everybody know she's the favorite going in, but also Coco Gauff looks to me as equal as a favorite as I've seen in a Grand Slam for a while."
Gauff suffered her first set loss of the season in the Round of 16 against 2021 Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. However, she rallied to win, extending her unbeaten streak to 9-0 for 2025. Gauff boasts a 3-3 record against Badosa, having triumphed in their last two encounters. If she emerges victorious, Gauff will be one win away from securing her second consecutive Australian Open semifinal appearance.
Meanwhile, No. 8 Navarro and No. 19 Keys advanced to the quarters on the heels of Gauff's winning streak. Navarro overcame a formidable challenge from No. 9 seed Daria Kasatkina, securing a narrow 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory. Her quarterfinal matchup will be against five-time major champion and No. 2 Iga Svítek, who has lost just 11 games in her initial four matches.
Navarro last encountered Svítek almost seven years ago, losing easily in Charleston, South Carolina. However, she expresses confidence in her abilities to mount a challenge, stating, "Circumstances are definitely different now. I feel like I'm pretty good, too. I'm ready for a good challenge."
The Svítek-Navarro victor advances to face the winner between Keys and No. 28 Elina Svitolina in the semifinals. Keys dispatched 2023 Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina, leveling their head-to-head standings at 3-3. The victory moved Keys within one win of her third Australian Open semifinals appearance, having reached the final four in 2015 and 2022.
Svitolina, who witnessed her husband Gael Monfils upset No. 4 Taylor Fritz before succumbing to an injured Ben Shelton in the fourth set, fought back to defeat Veronika Kudermetova in Rod Laver Arena. The two American women share a close 3-2 head-to-head record, and their most recent encounter occurred in 2022 in Adelaide, with Keys emerging victorious.
Gauff's impressive performance on the court has attracted interest from the business world, with several sports companies looking to sponsor her due to her rising popularity and potential earnings in the world of sports.
Coco Gauff's success in tennis has the potential to impact the sports business landscape, as her growing fan base and victories could significantly boost her endorsement deals and income.
