Coco Gauff has jokingly dissed her compatriot Frances Tiafoe's outfit at the US Open, saying that Carlos Alcaraz looked better.

Sixth seed Gauff has been progressing steadily through the last Grand Slam of the year in New York, where the American player is highly favored to fight for the win. So far, she has defeated fellow teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva, 32nd seed Elise Mertens, and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. She is now set to face Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals.

This makes her one of several American players who have shone this year at Flushing Meadows, including tenth seed Frances Tiafoe and rising talent Ben Shelton whose respective victories over Rinky Hijikata and Tommy Paul have led them to a quarter-final clash against each other. 

After her win, Gauff recounted seeing Tiafoe and Shelton starting the trash-talk ahead of their match.

"After my match, Ben and Frances were in the cool-down area, or warm-up, I don't know, area, and it was really just cool to see us all there. Obviously the conversation, they already started the trash talk," she said.

The 19-year-old went on to say that she doesn't mind who wins, but that she did express her thoughts on who had the better outfit.

"I'm indifferent who wins, but I did say that Frances is a little bit upset because I said Ben had the better outfit than him," she joked, before adding "Yeah, because Frances told me at French Open that he had something crazy planned for US Open and I was like... you're wearing confetti. I said Carlos [Alcaraz] looked better. He's going to hate this. Love you, Frances."

Furthermore, Gauff expressed her joy at the progress of American players at the US Open as several of them reach the final few rounds of the tournament.

"It's really great. I mean, I was so happy. Obviously I know Tommy [Paul] really well, too. But I was really happy for Ben's win. Especially they played each other in Australia, so it's nice to just see the competitiveness between the countrymen and us all doing well.

"With Ben and Frances winning guarantees a person in the semi. With Jess and Maddie playing, it guarantees a person in the quarters. It's just really exciting tennis for America. I hope that the fans are excited, are as happy with it," she explained.