Coco Gauff rode her hot serving hand into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday night, defeating Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 in a high quality affair under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.
On a rainy night in Queens Gauff’s serve reigned supreme as the 22-year-old American won 16 of 25 second serve points and hit five aces against three double faults to get past the talented world No.53 in 80 minutes.
“I was nervous in the tunnel, and then for some reason when the warm-up started, it went away,” Gauff said. “I think it showed the first game how I came out serving really well.”
The victory marks a seventh straight victory for Gauff, who claimed the title in Cincinnati and will face either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina in the second round.
2023 champion Gauff, one of four players who could finish the US Open with the No.1 ranking, saved four of five break points to improve to 21-6 lifetime at the US Open.
“I don’t know what put my mind at ease,” Gauff said. “I think just maybe the confidence I had this week and knowing, like, you know, the opponent would have to play a really high level and me a really low level maybe for it to not go my way.
“But Zeynep brought that high level today. Yeah, I was just happy to get out of that second set.”
Gauff, along with current world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, all need to win the title in order to reach the No.1 ranking. If none of the three can do it, Elena Rybakina will rise to No.1.
More to follow…
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