Defending women’s champion Coco Gauff started her US Open title defense in style, cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Varvara Gracheva in just 66 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 20-year-old American, who claimed her first Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, showcased her best form after a challenging few weeks on the tour.
Gauff, who has reached the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and French Open this year, had recently struggled, suffering early exits in the Paris Olympics, Cincinnati, and Toronto.
However, her confident display against Gracheva has reignited her momentum.
Gauff described her performance as “the best tennis I have played in a while,” crediting a fan’s comment on her TikTok account for helping shift her mindset.
Gauff’s dominant performance saw her serve 10 aces and break Gracheva’s serve twice in the opening set.
She closed out the match by winning the last nine games, setting up a second-round clash with 37-year-old German veteran Tatjana Maria, who advanced by defeating Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra 6-2, 6-3.
