Following disappointing performances at Wimbledon and the Olympics, Coco Gauff has made a strong start in her US Open title defense.
Gauff kicked off her campaign on Monday with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory over Varvara Gracheva of France in the first round at Flushing Meadows.
Despite a few tense moments in the match, Gauff managed to hold off Gracheva’s challenges and secured two crucial breaks to take the first set.
In the second set, Gauff continued her dominance by breaking Gracheva early on and not allowing her opponent to win another game.
Reflecting on the pressure of returning as the defending champion, Gauff expressed confidence in her abilities, stating, “If you defend something, that means you won something. If you did it, that means you can do it again.”
With the victory, Gauff revisited Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she clinched her maiden US Open title last year in a thrilling final against Aryna Sabalenka.
Since her Grand Slam breakthrough, Gauff has continued to impress with strong performances at the Australian Open and French Open, including a doubles title at Roland Garros.
Although she faced setbacks at Wimbledon and the Olympics, Gauff remains determined to prove her resilience and talent on the court.
Looking ahead, Gauff will enter the second round as the No. 3 seed and is set to face Germany’s Tatjana Maria in her next match.
Sloane Stephens blows 6-0, 3-0 lead
Meanwhile, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens experienced a surprising defeat after squandering a commanding lead against Clara Burel of France.
Stephens looked poised for victory after taking a 6-0, 3-0 lead, but Burel staged a remarkable comeback to claim the match.
Despite regaining momentum in the third set, Stephens was unable to close out the match as Burel mounted a spirited fightback to claim a 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
Other notable U.S. results from Monday
In other matches involving American players, Madison Keys secured a comfortable win over Katerina Siniakova, while Brandon Nakashima and Frances Tiafoe registered impressive victories on the men’s side.
Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Arthur Rinderknech also emerged victorious in their respective matches, showcasing the depth of talent among American players at this year’s US Open.