Coco Gauff once again showed why she belongs among tennis' elite.

After a shaky start that threatened to derail her campaign, the world No. 3 regrouped and powered past fellow American Hailey Baptiste, earning a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback win Friday to reach the Australian Open fourth round at Melbourne Park.

Early Serving Struggles Open the Door

Coco Gauff - Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2024 - Day Five
STUTTGART, GERMANY - Coco Gauff of United States stretches for a backhand shot against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during the quarter-final match on day five of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2024 at Porsche Arena on April 19, 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Gauff looked sharp out of the gate on a sun-soaked Margaret Court Arena, breaking Baptiste's serve early. But momentum quickly shifted as serving issues crept back into her game.

A series of costly double faults allowed Baptiste, ranked No. 70, to settle in, dictate rallies, and confidently close out the opening set.

With the favorite under pressure, the possibility of an upset suddenly felt real.

Gauff Flips the Script in a Ruthless Second Set

Champions respond, and Gauff did exactly that. The 21-year-old raised her first-serve percentage, stepped inside the baseline, and imposed herself immediately. She surged to a 3-0 lead in just 13 minutes and never looked back.

The result was a dominant 6-0 second set, wrapped up in 35 minutes, as Gauff cleaned up her errors and took complete control of the match.

Experience Makes the Difference in the Decider

According to France24, the final set proved more competitive, but Gauff's composure never wavered. Her relentless returning pressure forced Baptiste into mistakes, and a critical break for 4-2 swung the match firmly in Gauff's favor.

From there, the two-time Grand Slam champion served out the win with authority, securing a fourth-round showdown with 19th seed Karolina Muchova.

Gauff Defends Opponent After Crowd Moment

Beyond the tennis, Gauff also made headlines for addressing a disrespectful comment from the crowd aimed at Baptiste. She spoke up in defense of her opponent, reminding fans that players competing on this stage deserve respect.

Momentum Building in Melbourne

While Gauff has yet to reach an Australian Open final, performances like this highlight her growth and resilience. In fact, the American looks increasingly dangerous as the tournament enters its second week.

The momentum is on her side; she just needs to maintain another deep run in Melbourne.