NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the US Open on Saturday, turning back Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in straight sets.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, topped the 40th ranked Spaniard 6-3 6-4 in 88 minutes, charging the net on match point and sealing the victory when Bucsa’s lob sailed long.

“She’s a tricky player, so it’s tough to get rhythm,” Gauff said of the Spaniard. “Happy with how I fought through even when I wasn’t playing my best.”

Gauff, who is on a nine-match winning streak after triumphing in the Cincinnati warmup tournament, will next play either rising American Iva Jovic or Alex Eala of the Philippines.

In a largely baseline battle both Gauff and Bucsa made effective forays to the net and dug in defensively to extend the rallies with difficult retrievals that enthralled the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Trailing 1-3 in the opening set, Gauff won the next five games, earning a key hold for 4-3 despite two double faults in a row.

Gauff struck first in the second set, breaking for 4-3 lead only to immediately drop her own serve. But she broke again in the next game and served out the match efficiently to reach the second week at Flushing Meadows for a fifth straight year.

The 2023 champion, Gauff will be looking to improve upon her result the last two years when she fell in the fourth round.