Coco Gauff opens US Open with straight-sets victory

Coco Gauff has reached the second round of the US Open after making a composed start in New York. The American, ranked fourth in the world, arrived at Flushing Meadows after winning the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati. Her opening victory extends the positive momentum from that title run and gives her an early place in the tournament’s next round.

Gauff beat Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 23 minutes. The opening set remained level until Gauff broke for a 4-2 lead, an advantage she protected to move ahead. Sonmez, the world No. 53, made the second set more competitive. Gauff lost her serve once and had to save three break points that would have allowed Sonmez to lead 4-2. She held firm, then earned the decisive break at 3-3.

The American did not close out the match immediately after that advantage. She missed one match point while Sonmez was serving, but finished the contest on her own serve in the following game. The victory sends Gauff through without dropping a set and sets up a second-round meeting with either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa.

That match was suspended with Badosa ahead 6-1, 5-4, with the game score tied at 40-40. Gauff will therefore await the completion of their encounter before learning her next opponent. For now, her Cincinnati success has been followed by a controlled first appearance at the US Open, with the fourth seed safely through to the next stage.