Coco Gauff survived a shaky serving performance to battle past Ajla Tomljanović in the first round of the US Open, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in two hours and 57 minutes on Tuesday. The No 3 seed finished with 10 double faults, was broken six times and squandered a string of opportunities to close the contest earlier, but found enough resilience to edge into round two under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff appeared in control after taking five of six games to take the opening set from a break down and twice leading by a break in the second.
Coco Gauff survived a shaky serving performance to battle past Ajla Tomljanović in the first round of the US Open, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in two hours and 57 minutes on Tuesday.
The No 3 seed finished with 10 double faults, was broken six times and squandered a string of opportunities to close the contest earlier, but found enough resilience to edge into round two under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Gauff appeared in control after taking five of six games to take the opening set from a break down and twice leading by a break in the second. Yet she faltered when serving for the match at 5-4 in the third, conceding two double faults and a pair of forehand errors as Tomljanovic leveled at 5-5.
The 21-year-old American responded instantly, breaking back before sealing victory at her second attempt with a crisp backhand winner down the line, lifting her arms to the crowd in relief as much as celebration.
“It wasn’t the best, but I’m happy to get through,” Gauff said. “I had so many chances. I just kept telling myself eventually one of them would go my way.”
Her serve remains a clear work in progress despite recent changes to her team, including the addition of biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan. Gauff has led the tour in double faults this season, and while her speeds picked up as the match wore on, inconsistency again weighed heavily.
Tomljanovic, ranked 79th, had her chances too. The Australian produced 56 unforced errors and eight service breaks of her own, her heavy forehand threatening at times but ultimately too erratic to deliver the upset.
Gauff will face Croatia’s Donna Vekić in the second round as she continues her campaign in New York, with the prospect of leapfrogging Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek for world No 1 ranking for the first time still in the frame if she can string together a deep run.
Category: General Sports
