MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff had somewhat issue adjusting to the solar at one finish of Rod Laver Enviornment and dropped an early service recreation however rapidly settled right into a rhythm to start out her Australian Open a 6-3, 6-3 win Monday over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.
Third-seeded Gauff gained the title on the WTA Finals final November and began this season by serving to the U.S. to victory on the United Cup final week, a run that offers her an opportunity to maneuver atop the rankings.
The 2023 US Open champion is carrying a Marvel-inspired bodysuit and skirt at Melbourne Park and she or he’s radiating confidence and calm.
“I knew getting in it was going to be tough, however I am pleased with how I performed,” she stated of the 1-hour, 20-minute win over Kenin, who at No. 81 is a a lot harder opponent than her rating suggests.
“I imply (I) may serve higher, however like on that aspect I used to be struggling to see the ball,” Guaff stated, pointing to 1 baseline on the principle present court docket that was bathed in solar. “So I am simply completely satisfied that I used to be in a position to handle by that.”
Gauff went into her opening spherical on a streak of successful 33 matches in opposition to gamers ranked outdoors the Prime 50, relationship to a loss to Kenin at Wimbledon 2023.
It was robust going early, with Gauff changing an early break earlier than Kenin acquired again on serve at 2-2, hitting deep floor strokes and getting good bounce off the arduous court docket.
However Gauff, who had 5 aces and 4 double-faults in her first two service video games, lifted her tempo, began taking the ball earlier and gained 4 of the subsequent 5 video games. She completed the match with 12 aces and 9 double-faults, and saved seven of the eight breakpoints she confronted. She additionally had 28 winners, together with two rifling backhands on key factors within the second set, and 13 unforced errors.
The draw introduced one other robust journey to Australia for Kenin. It was the third straight yr Kenin confronted a Grand Slam champion within the first spherical in Australia, and her fourth consecutive first-round exit right here.
Guaff will subsequent play Jodie Burrage of Britain. Additionally advancing from early matches have been No. 12 Diana Shnaider and No. 25 Liudmila Samsonova.
The Related Press contributed to this report.