Coco Gauff launched her quest for a second US Open championship with a steady and efficient 6-3, 6-4 win over Zeynep Sonmez from Turkey at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. The fourth-seeded American, who recently clinched the Cincinnati title, demonstrated her strong form and poise with a commanding performance in the opening round, highlighted by an impressive serving display.
Gauff set the tone early in the match, breaking Sonmez in the sixth game to take the first set decisively. Continuing her momentum into the second set, Gauff broke Sonmez’s serve right away, gaining an early advantage. Although Sonmez mounted a spirited comeback, breaking Gauff to level the score at 2-2 and extending the American through a challenging service game, Gauff maintained her composure. She fended off three break points, eventually holding serve with a powerful 115mph ace to secure a 3-3 tie.
This crucial hold of serve marked a turning point. Sonmez struggled in her subsequent service game, committing two double faults, which allowed Gauff to secure another break. The American maintained her lead and confidently served out the match after one hour and 20 minutes on the court. Gauff concluded the match with five aces and three double faults, winning 71% of her first-serve points and almost two-thirds of her second-serve points, losing her serve only once throughout the match.
Gauff’s victory is a testament to her improved serving consistency, which has been bolstered by extensive work on her technique. This newfound reliability has empowered her to adopt a more aggressive baseline game while alleviating pressure on other aspects of her play. In the next round, she is set to face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa, as she continues her promising run in the tournament where she first claimed a Grand Slam title in 2023.
Beyond her immediate goals, Gauff also has an opportunity to ascend to the world No. 1 ranking. She is one of four players with a chance to reach the top, contingent upon her winning the US Open and Elena Rybakina’s exit before the semi-finals. For now, Gauff can draw confidence from her strong start as she advances further into the tournament.