Coco Gauff launched her pursuit of a second US Open title in four years with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in the first round, playing under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rain-lashed Tuesday night. The 22-year-old American, the fourth seed, arrived in New York with momentum after winning her first title of the year in Cincinnati and with the world No 1 ranking within reach.
Gauff breaks through in the first set
Gauff started confidently, striking a pair of early aces in a love hold, but the 54th-ranked Sonmez matched her in the baseline exchanges through the opening five games. Gauff took control in the sixth game, breaking her opponent’s serve without dropping a point, and moved to 5-2 after an uneven service game. Sonmez held to prolong the set, but Gauff served it out after 33 minutes as heavy rain pounded the roof overhead.
Second-set battle and a key hold
The second set was less straightforward. Gauff broke immediately, but Sonmez responded by attacking the net and broke back for 2-all with a backhand winner. Gauff then saved three break points in a marathon 16-point service game at 2-3, escaping with a 115mph ace down the middle to hold for 3-all. “I knew if I could hold that game, I felt confident breaking the next game,” Gauff said. Sonmez double-faulted twice in the next game to surrender the break, and Gauff closed the match after 1hr 20min.
Serve improvement and rankings picture
Gauff has long been considered the finest defensive player on the women’s tour, but her serve has been the bellwether of her game. After a major technical overhaul last year and a fourth-round exit against Naomi Osaka, she has served more effectively in reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon and in Canada, followed by her Cincinnati triumph. She landed 62% of her first serves, topping out at 125mph, with five aces and three double faults, and won 71% of her first-serve points.
Gauff described the transformation as gradual, built around a more consistent ball toss and subtle changes to her wrist position. “I don’t even realize how much it looks different until someone posted a video of me serving even in Miami Open this year,” she said. “My serve looks different now.”
Next opponent and ranking stakes
The victory sends Gauff into the second round against either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa, whose first-round match was suspended with Badosa leading 6-1, 5-4 after rain halted play on the outer courts. Gauff is one of four women who can leave Flushing Meadows at the top of the WTA rankings, alongside Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula. To finish No 1, Gauff must win the US Open and Rybakina must fall before the semi-finals.
Gauff has spoken this week about trying to experience the US Open differently, less consumed by the result and more conscious of enjoying the occasion. She admitted she was nervous in the tunnel before walking on to Ashe, but the feeling vanished during the warm-up. “I don’t know, it was just a weird feeling today that I felt pretty calm,” she said. “I don’t know what put my mind at ease. I think just maybe the confidence I had this week and knowing, like, the opponent would have to play a really high level and me a really low level maybe for it to not go my way.”
