Coco Gauff has kicked off her quest for a second US Open title with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win against Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Entering as the fourth seed, the American player showcased her strong form, which was evident after her recent Cincinnati title win, by delivering a controlled performance in the first round, especially with her serve.
The match began with Gauff making an early breakthrough in the first set, breaking Sonmez in the sixth game and subsequently closing out the set with ease. She continued her dominance into the second set by breaking Sonmez’s serve immediately, putting herself in a commanding position. However, Sonmez mounted a comeback, breaking back to level the score at 2-2 and then putting pressure on Gauff during a prolonged service game. Gauff managed to save three break points, finally holding her serve with a powerful 115mph ace to bring the score to 3-3.
That crucial hold proved to be a turning point as Sonmez faltered on her serve in the following game, committing two double faults that allowed Gauff to secure another break. The American maintained her lead and ultimately served out the match in one hour and 20 minutes. Gauff’s statistics from the match were impressive; she recorded five aces, committed three double faults, and won 71% of points on her first serve while claiming nearly two-thirds of her second-serve points, losing her serve only once.
Gauff’s victory is part of a promising pattern, with her serve showing increased consistency thanks to her efforts at refining her technique. This improvement has enabled her to play more aggressively from the baseline and alleviate pressure on other aspects of her game. Looking ahead, Gauff is set to face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the tournament’s second round.
Additionally, Gauff has an opportunity to end the tournament as the world No. 1. She is one of four players in contention for the top ranking, although this would require her to win the US Open and for Elena Rybakina to be eliminated before the semi-finals. For now, Gauff can draw confidence from her strong start at the event where she achieved her first Grand Slam victory in 2023.