Defending champion Coco Gauff has declared that she’s treating this year’s US Open as a “victory lap” after cruising to a comfortable victory over Varvara Gracheva in her opening match.
The 20-year-old American secured a 6-2, 6-0 win in just 66 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Gauff, who claimed her first Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, has made strides in the tennis world, reaching the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and French Open this year.
However, recent weeks have been challenging, with early exits at tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto, and a third-round loss at the Paris Olympics.
Despite these setbacks, Gauff expressed that her performance against Gracheva was “the best tennis I have played in a while.” She credited a fan’s comment on her TikTok account for helping shift her mindset going into the tournament.
“Someone commented on my TikTok saying you’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap,” Gauff said during her on-court interview. “I’m just treating this tournament like that and if you defend something that means you won something.”
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Gauff showcased her powerful serve with 10 aces and broke Gracheva’s serve twice in the opening set, winning the last nine games to seal an emphatic victory.
Up next, Gauff will face 37-year-old German veteran Tatjana Maria, who advanced to the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra. Meanwhile, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, a strong contender for the title, defeated Australia’s Priscilla Hon 6-3, 6-3 in Monday’s night session on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
