Coco Gauff launched her pursuit of a second US Open title with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 win against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Entering the tournament as the fourth seed, Gauff was riding high on her recent victory at the Cincinnati Masters, and she showcased her prowess with a formidable serving performance in this opening round.
In the first set, Gauff established her dominance by breaking Sonmez in the sixth game, smoothly serving out to take the set. Her aggressive play continued into the second set, where she immediately broke Sonmez to gain an upper hand. Although Sonmez managed to retaliate by breaking back to level the score at 2-2, Gauff’s resilience shone through. She navigated through a challenging service game, saving three break points before securing a 3-3 tie, highlighted by a powerful 115 mph ace.
This crucial hold turned the tide in Gauff’s favor. Sonmez’s struggle on serve, including two double faults in the subsequent game, gave Gauff another break opportunity which she capitalized on. Maintaining this advantage, Gauff closed out the match after one hour and 20 minutes of play, finishing with five aces and three double faults. Her first-serve effectiveness was evident as she secured 71% of those points, and she also claimed nearly two-thirds of her second-serve points, facing only a single break of serve throughout the match.
Gauff’s victory underscores her ascent, particularly with her improved serving technique, which has bolstered her baseline aggression while alleviating pressure on her overall gameplay. Her next challenge in the tournament will come against either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the second round. Additionally, Gauff stands a chance to ascend to the world No. 1 ranking by the tournament’s end, provided she wins the US Open and Elena Rybakina does not reach the semifinals.
For now, Gauff can draw confidence from her strong start at the US Open, the very venue where she captured her first Grand Slam title in 2023. Her promising form and tactical enhancements suggest she is well-positioned for a deep run in the competition.