Coco Gauff kicked off her quest for a second US Open crown with a poised victory against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, winning 6-3, 6-4 at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. The fourth-seeded American showcased her current top form following her recent triumph at the Cincinnati title, demonstrating a strong serve that set the tone for her controlled first-round match.
Gauff gained the upper hand early in the opening set, breaking Sonmez in the sixth game and then maintaining her lead to wrap up the set with ease. She continued her momentum into the second set, immediately breaking Sonmez to establish a commanding position. Despite Sonmez’s efforts to fight back, breaking Gauff to equalize at 2-2 and extending a tense service game, Gauff held firm. She fended off three break points, eventually holding serve at 3-3 with a powerful 115mph ace that alleviated the pressure.
This critical hold was a turning point, as Sonmez faltered on her serve in the next game, committing two double faults that allowed Gauff to break once more. Gauff maintained her composure and advantage, successfully serving out the match in an hour and 20 minutes. Her performance was marked by five aces and three double faults, with a 71% success rate on her first serve and nearly two-thirds on her second serve. She surrendered serve only once during the match.
Gauff’s victory extends an encouraging streak, driven by an increasingly reliable serve after dedicated efforts to refine her technique. This consistency has enabled her to adopt a more aggressive baseline game, reducing the burden on other aspects of her play. Looking ahead, she will face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the subsequent round.
In addition to her immediate goals, Gauff also has the opportunity to achieve the world No. 1 ranking. She is among four contenders for the top spot, but securing it would require her to win the US Open and for Elena Rybakina to exit before the semi-finals. For now, Gauff can draw confidence from her strong start at the tournament where she captured her first Grand Slam title in 2023.
