\n<\/p>\n
Gauff’s main emotion might well have been pride, but her relief at avoiding another early clay-court exit – after losing in the Stuttgart quarter-finals and Madrid last 16 – was also evident.<\/p>\n
Struggling with her footwork and misfiring with her forehand, Gauff was way short of her best in the opening two sets.<\/p>\n
But, after Jovic missed match point with a tight forehand into the net, the 17th ranked teenager became further distracted by a cut on her finger caused by an earlier fall on the red dirt.<\/p>\n
Gauff took full advantage by showing the indomitable spirit which has categorised her ascent to the top of the women’s game.<\/p>\n
A flustered Jovic was clearly feeling uncomfortable with her grip and it contributed to a host of errors as Gauff – who has said she is dealing with “tough” off-court issues at the moment – quickly turned the second set in her favour.<\/p>\n
Gauff still did not play cleanly in the decider, but knew the importance of simply getting the ball back into play with regularity and preying on Jovic’s problems.<\/p>\n
Jovic, who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year, continued to hit loosely and her first serve plummeted – as the pair exchanged five breaks of serve – before Gauff steadied herself to win the final three games.<\/p>\n
“In my previous round I was not good mentally on the court and this was a complete 180. It shows I can continue to be positive in the most part,” Gauff told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
Later, Poland’s Swiatek, who has teamed up with Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig in an attempt to ignite her season, looked far closer to her best as she outplayed Japan’s Osaka.<\/p>\n
Swiatek has not won a title since September last year but applied relentless pressure to Osaka, who has rarely looked at home on the clay during her career.<\/p>\n
She broke the Osaka serve six times but had another seven break point opportunities, with Osaka winning less than half of the points in her own service games.<\/p>\n
Swiatek will play fifth seed Jessica Pegula next after the American beat Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (8-6) 6-2. They are in the opposite side of the draw to Gauff.<\/p>\n
In the same section is second seed Elena Rybakina. She was similarly impressive in beating former world number one Karolina Pliskova 6-0 6-2 in 58 minutes to set up a meeting with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.<\/p>\n
In Gauff’s half, Sorana Cirstea, who knocked out world number one Sabalenka in the last 32, continued her good run by beating Linda Noskova to set up a meeting with former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n