NEW YORK – The problems with Coco Gauff’s serve have been well-documented, with one of the most basic maneuvers in tennis costing the two-time Grand Slam champion matches.

But Gauff, who at times was emotional, persevered once again on Thursday night, in front of a packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She can put those concerns away for at least one more day, advancing with an error-filled 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 second-round victory over unseeded Donna Vekic of Croatia.

Gauff moves on to play in the third round against Poland’s Magdalena Fręch.

Gauff, the No. 3 seed and 2023 US Open champion, had eight double faults and 18 unforced errors, and managed to convert 67% of her first serves in play.

Gauff got off to a rocky start and was broken on opening serve, which ended in a double fault. She found herself down two games before battling back, breaking Vekic, who had her own issues with her serve, double-faulting three times in the third game alone.

Vekic, a 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist, had 10 double faults and 35 unforced errors (mostly balls hit into the net), and received treatment on her right arm from the medical staff. She wasted an opportunity serving for the first set when she was immediately broken, sending the set to a tiebreak, where Gauff’s fewer mistakes were the difference.

Gauff knows she hasn’t played her best during the first two rounds and needed nearly three hours to beat her first-round opponent, Australian Ajla Tomljanović 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, double-faulting 10 times during that match.

Coco Gauff vs. Donna Vekic result, highlights

Gauff defeated Vekic 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

Gauff takes first set in tiebreak

After receiving treatment on her arm, Vekic served for the first set but was immediately broken, sending the first set to a tiebreak. Neither player got command during the tiebreak, going back and forth with mostly unforced errors, before Gauff settled the issue with a forehand winner and an error by Vekic to take the set 7-6 (5).

Vekic gets medical treatment

Vekic is receiving treatment on her right arm from the medical staff and is set to serve for the first set, which has been poorly played with dozens of unforced errors and double faults.

Vekic struggling with her serve

Vekic has already double-faulted six times in the first set, including three times in the third game. Gauff failed to take advantage at times and after taking four games in a row after being down 0-2, Vekic has rallied to even up the match.

Gauff down early

Gauff’s serve betrayed her to start the match as she was broken, double-faulting to give Vekic the first game. She was blitzed in the second game and will have to dig out of a hole to get back in the match.

Coco Gauff and Donna Vekic enter stadium court

Expecting a packed house at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Gauff is introduced to loud applause. Gauff’s serve has been the subject of her game lately, so it will be interesting if she can get off to a good start tonight. Vekic, a 29-year-old from Croatia, is ranked No. 49 in the world and is expected to play aggressively from the start.

What time is Coco Gauff vs. Donna Vekic?

Coco Gauff will face off against Donna Vekic in the second-round of the 2025 US Open on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Watch Coco Gauff at the US Open on Fubo

How to watch Coco Gauff vs. Donna Vekic: US Open TV channel, stream

• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (New York)
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

• The Dallas Cowboys have traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
• Dallas is receiving DT Kenny Clark and two first-round picks from Green Bay.
• Parsons will receive a four-year, $188 million deal from the Packers.

The Micah Parsons saga has reached an endpoint that might have seemed unfathomable just weeks ago.

On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to trade the two-time All-Pro edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Parsons, meanwhile, will receive a four-year, $188 million contract that, in addition to making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing.

A massive exchange of resources figures to transform the NFC landscape immediately, with the Packers making an all-out move to reconfigure a flagging pass rush and a Cowboys team that has stubbornly resisted a rebuild now on uncertain ground. But who won the deal?

Let’s hand out grades for maybe the most consequential move of the NFL offseason:

Packers trade grade: A-

Typically, dealing away premium draft picks for highly paid veterans is bad business for NFL teams. Between the selections involved and the massive bill that will accompany Parsons to Wisconsin, the Packers are paying a price that would be prohibitive for almost any player in the league.

Except, of course, Parsons.

When it comes to one of the game’s most important tasks in rushing the passer, the three-time finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year is very nearly in a class all his own. Of course, he has never won the award that peers T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa all have claimed. But Parsons only turned 26 in May, and he’s the only player beyond late legendary pass rusher Reggie White to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons.

For that, it’s understandable why a Packers organization known for focusing on home-grown talent would take such a massive swing.

Jeff Hafley reinvigorated Green Bay’s defense in his first year at the helm, with his aggressive scheme generating big plays and helping the unit rank fifth in yards allowed and sixth in scoring. But with a pass rush win rate that ranked 26th in the NFL, the coordinator seemed to be staring at a ceiling. Parsons should be a force multiplier for Rashan Gary, who could feast in a complementary role, and the rest of the front that Hafley can count on to bring the heat.

Very few teams are actually one player away from Super Bowl contender status. But Parsons is the rare talent who might put the Packers over the top – or at least keep them at the front of a hypercompetitive first tier of NFC teams. And with an abundance of young talent, Green Bay could afford to take bold action.

Cowboys trade grade: D+

Well … that’s it?

The NFL offseason landscape was largely defined by cooler heads prevailing in heated negotiations, from Myles Garrett’s resolution with the Cleveland Browns to Terry McLaurin landing the long-term contract he sought from the Washington Commanders. Even perhaps the most acrimonious standoff of the summer was at least temporarily defused when Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals found a path forward for 2025.

Yet somehow Jerry Jones couldn’t manage to de-escalate the bargaining nightmare of his own creation.

The self-inflicted nature of this clash is the most damning aspect for Dallas. In his departure, Parsons said, ‘I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. … Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.’

While contentious contract talks between stars and teams are nothing new, the Cowboys – in typical and unfortunate Jones fashion – took things to another level by repeatedly airing out grievances, particularly regarding agent David Mulugheta’s role in the talks. That didn’t sit well with Parsons, who on Aug. 1 cited ‘repeated shots’ as part of the reason he no longer wished to play for the team.

Parsons receiving his wish, however, seemed far-fetched until Thursday, when reports indicated the Cowboys were finally listening for deals. With their star pass rusher gone, what are the Cowboys for 2025 and beyond?

Jones has furiously resisted any notion of a rebuild, unwilling to give off the appearance that his team isn’t clawing its way to end a Super Bowl drought now standing at 30 years. Dallas already appeared to be wading in a sort of no-man’s land for Brian Schottenheimer’s debut season. Now, it’s firmly stuck there.

With Dak Prescott still claiming the title of the NFL’s highest-paid player thanks to a four-year, $240 million contract extension reached just last year, the Cowboys can’t blow things up. Jones, of course, would never accept that outcome. The acquisition of Clark would seem to reinforce the stubbornness from up top. Sure, there’s been a sizable void at nose tackle for some time. But how does inserting a player who will turn 30 in October move the needle for a defense that now has a massive hole on the edge? Good luck to defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who has never been known as a heavy blitzer but will have to concoct some innovative ways to generate pressure with what now looks to be a pretty suspect group.

The two first-round picks are nothing to sneeze at, but barring an injury to Jordan Love, the Packers likely are only turning over choices in the mid-20s. If Jones expects this trade to reboot his franchise, he’s very likely overconfident in his own personnel preferences.

Jones has pushed back on many of the emerging narratives about his priorities. In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell, he discussed the franchise’s astronomical value and popularity by saying, ‘I explain it by hard work. I bust my ass. This exact same hard work that is going on in the football. I work my ass off.’

Maybe it’s not Jones’ effort that’s worth questioning. In this case – and many others – though, he’s hustling backward.

The shocking Micah Parsons trade is reminiscent of another blockbuster deal the Dallas Cowboys made over three decades ago.

Go all the way back to 1989. When Jerry Jones and the Cowboys traded running back Herschel Walker, at the peak of his career, to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for five players and six draft picks. The Cowboys would use their draft assets on players such as Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson and Russell Maryland. The trade was genesis of their 90s dynasty. They would go on to win three Super Bowls in the decade.

The Cowboys haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl since. Not even an NFC championship game appearance.

Cowboys trade Micah Parsons to Packers in blockbuster

Perhaps Jones harken back to his gamble in 1989 that was paid off by Super Bowl jewelry before he greenlit Thursday’s trade that sent another franchise player packing.

The Cowboys got defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in exchange for Parsons. Time will reveal the players the Cowboys get with their newly-acquired picks, though, they are expected to be late first-round selections because Parsons and the Packers should be good. Dallas could get a Hall of Famer out of the draft like Smith. Or Pro Bowl-caliber players similar to Woodson and Maryland.

But this trade doesn’t feel like it’ll yield the same results.  

Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, he’s a two-time first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler, who at 26 years old might not even be in his prime yet.

Parsons produced 52.5 sacks in his first four seasons. He and Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only two players in NFL history to compile 12 or more sacks in their first four NFL seasons. The Cowboys defense ranked first in defensive EPA per play when Parsons was on the field since 2021. When Parsons wasn’t on the field, the Cowboys ranked last.

The Cowboys traded a generational defensive player in the aftermath of a 7-10 season.

Maybe the biggest loser in the trade is Dallas sports fans.

Within a calendar year, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cowboys dealt Parsons to the Packers.

Micah Parsons trade grades: Who won deal between Packers, Cowboys?

Two franchise cornerstones in their respective sports and fan favorites are gone. Sorry Dallas sports fans.

The Mavs appear to have made out well from their trade, aided by the NBA draft lottery and subsequent No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg. The Cowboys are to be determined. But Thursday’s blockbuster trade feels like a major step back for the Cowboys and a simultaneously signals a rebuild for the franchise.

Kyle Schwarber could not be stopped against the Braves.

The Philadelphia Phillies slugger launched four home runs against Atlanta on Aug. 28, bringing his season total up to 49. Only the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh (50) has hit more this season.

Schwarber hit a solo homer in the first inning, a two-run shot in the fourth inning, a three-run shot in the fifth inning and another three-run shot in the seventh inning of the Phillies’ 19-4 win. His final line: an incredible 4-for-6 with nine RBIs, a Phillies record per MLB.

He homered off three of the Braves’ four pitchers: starter Cal Quantrill and relievers Austin Cox (twice) and Wander Suero.

Schwarber had a chance to become the first player to hit five homers in a game, but his final at-bat in the eighth inning ended in a pop-out.

This marks just the 21st four-homer game in MLB history, though incredibly three have come this season. Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz did it last month and Eugenio Suarez did it in April, also against the Braves. Prior to this season, there hadn’t been a four-homer game since 2017.

Watch: Kyle Schwarber hits four homers vs. Braves

This story has been updated with new information.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers reached an agreement on a blockbuster trade Thursday involving Micah Parsons.

The Cowboys will send Parsons, a 26-year-old star pass rusher who recorded 52.5 sacks during his four seasons in Dallas, to the Packers. In return, Dallas will receive two future draft picks along with veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark.

However, just moments before the deal was announced Cowboys legend and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin was on live television publicly declaring that no trade involving Parsons would take place.

‘I guarantee Micah Parsons is not going anywhere,’ Irvin declared.

The NFL on ESPN’s X post about Irvin’s comments was made at 4:59 p.m. ET. Ian Rapoport reported the trade just one minute later, at 5:00 p.m. In less than a minute, Irvin’s confident ‘guarantee’ became one of the coldest takes in history.

In Irvin’s defense, ESPN’s post on X may have been one minute before the trade was first reported, but the ‘NFL Live’ segment could have been aired earlier. And many expected Parsons to agree to an extension, rather than being shipped out of Dallas.

Parsons was seeking a new contract and got one with the Packers, agreeing to a four-year, $188 million extension deal with Green Bay, including $136 million guaranteed, making him the new highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Either way, Irvin’s bold statement became a viral moment in the latest Earth-shattering moment across the NFL.