Defending champion Coco Gauff came back from a set down to defeat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

American third seed Gauff could become the first woman to defend her title since Serena Williams in 2014, but she still has a chance to defend the title. They won with great difficulty 3-6 6-3 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

“This win means a lot,” Gauff said. “I knew it was going to be a tough match today. Every time I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I knew I had to show my best tennis.

“I thought I played well. I served much better than the previous match, except for the last service game, but overall I was proud of what I was able to do.”

Svitolina provided the first break of the match in the eighth game when she made a stunning break after Gauff reached the net with his backhand.

A nervous silence fell on the main court at Flushing Meadows and Gauff could be heard telling her team, “I miss so much in the net.”

The 29-year-old Svitolina, a three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, took the first set with a hold at love after her serve.

After saving a break point, Gauff created her first break point in the sixth game of the second set and she converted the break with a stunning cross-court forehand winner.

With her confidence and the crowd behind her, Gauff held her serve and took firm control of the second set.

After a hold from Svitolina, Gauff served out the set to Love, forcing a deciding set, drawing loud cheers from her home crowd.

The 20-year-old American continued her success story by breaking Svitolina’s serve twice to take a 4-1 lead.

But she then lost three match points trying to serve out the match, before eventually securing the win by breaking Svitolina with a love break in the next game, drawing cheers from the crowd.

She will face compatriot Emma Navarro after her 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.

The two Americans met in the fourth round of Wimbledon this year, with Navarro providing a surprise on Centre Court.