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WILD CARD: Cori Gauff

CORI "COCO" Gauff served up an epic three-set thriller to defeat Timea Babos on Thursday (August 29) and set up a mouth-watering 3rd round clash with US Open defending champion Naomi Osaka.

The 15-year-old American wild card, who shot to fame for her exploits at Wimbledon, was lifted by the sheer energy of the vocal 14,000 spectators inside the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

And virtually all of these were avid supporters of the rising star, who pulled off a captivating 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 success inside New York's Flushing Meadows.

Yet Gauff made a dreadful start, broken in the opening game by the ex-world no.25. But the 26-year-old Hungarian was unable to take advantage of being gifted the first game and was immediately broken back. Half an hour later and Gauff, whose adorning fans treated her like a rock star at a concert, had wrapped up the set.

But the Florida-based teenager was facing a wily former Doubles world no.1, who knew how to trade chipped forehands, ferocious backhands, sneak in drop shots and move Gauff from side to side. Babos' vast experience and clever use of lobs and volleys often left Gauff perplexed, and it came as no surprise when she levelled matters to force a deciding set.

Babos continued to dominate early in the third set with Gauff's naivety costing her dear by being over reliant on her trademark go-for-broke forehands that too often missed the mark.

But Gauff has a wise head on such young shoulders and, having come a cropper at the recent Washington Open by refusing to alter her tactics, she swiftly changed her game plan.

Although appearing uncomfortable, Gauff began to mix up her choice of shots and instead of trying to power her way past Babos became content to block the slice forehands.

With the eventual winner on a knife-edge, Gauff let a pair of break points slip at 4-3 to be pegged back. She held the next game to love to regain the lead and edge closer to victory.

Yet it was good fortune that saw her through in what was the last game of a lavish encounter.

At 30-30 visibly tiring Gauff's volley popped off her racquet frame for a winner to earn match point. And then more injustice occurred as Gauff's return came off the frame again, only for Babos to squander her backhand and taste defeat.

Gauff faces the sternest test of her career with her next opponent in the shape of Japan's hard-hitting world no.1 Osaka, who beat American icon Serena Williams in last year's final.

Osaka did hit with Gauff two years ago before the Miami Open, but no woman in the Open era has ever defeated a player who was both the top seed and defending champion in their debut at a Grand Slam in 67 attempts.

Gauff, whose star quality has captivated fans with her fearless attitude, is now the youngest player to reach the US Open 3rd round since Russian Anna Kournikova sprang onto the scene in 1996.

Gauff seemingly likes to sprinkle her star powder at the majors, making Wimbledon her breakthrough tournament in July and now has home advantage to take on the world's no.1 on Saturday (August 31).