Coco Gauff began her U.S. Open campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez on Tuesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff delivered a near-perfect performance, winning 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
Gauff started strong, opening the match with powerful serves, including several aces, reaching speeds of 125 mph. Despite Sonmez adjusting her play and raising her own level, particularly in the second set where she displayed good instincts and athleticism, Gauff consistently met the challenge. She expressed relief at not feeling overly nervous, a sentiment that surprised her. "It’s incredible to be back out on this court, thank you, guys. It’s never something I take for granted, and I love playing in this atmosphere," Gauff said during an on-court interview.
Gauff noted the importance of a key 3-2 game in the second set, after which she felt more settled. She acknowledged Sonmez's strong play, stating, "I know that I can raise my level if I need to, and I like to challenge my opponent to keep up that level the whole match." Gauff's performance was particularly encouraging given past serving struggles at the tournament.
Gauff will face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the second round.