Defending champion Coco Gauff started her US Open title defense with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva in just 66 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff, 20, is treating this year’s tournament as a “victory lap” after a fan’s TikTok comment reminded her of her accomplishments and urged her to enjoy the moment without undue pressure.
Despite recent struggles, including early exits at the Paris Olympics, Cincinnati, and Toronto, Gauff showed top form against Gracheva, delivering 10 aces and breaking serve twice in the first set. She won the last nine games to secure her victory and will now face German veteran Tatjana Maria in the second round.
Gauff, who won her first Grand Slam by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s US Open final, has continued to perform well in majors this year, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open. However, she acknowledges that the past few weeks have been challenging, making her impressive performance against Gracheva a welcome return to form.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka, the second seed and a title favorite, also advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Australia’s Priscilla Hon. Gauff will look to maintain her momentum as she continues her title defense, focusing on enjoying the journey rather than the outcome.
