Coco Gauff opened her 2026 US Open campaign with a solid straight-set win over Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez that showcased her improved serve.
The fourth-seeded Gauff, who won the New York Grand Slam in 2023, was broken only once to top the 53rd-ranked Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-hitting battle fought mostly from the baseline.
"It's incredible to be back on this court," an exuberant Gauff told the on-court interviewer. "I love playing in this atmosphere."
Gauff, whose service woes last year prompted a dramatic coaching change days before the tournament and contributed to a fourth round exit, came into Flushing Meadows this time feeling much better about the stroke, having won the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati this month.
Gauff said she had worked make the toss more consistent under the tutelage of biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan, who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka retool her serve, improvements that helped the Belarussian rise to number one.
#serve
The fourth-seeded Gauff, who won the New York Grand Slam in 2023, was broken only once to top the 53rd-ranked Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-hitting battle fought mostly from the baseline.
"It's incredible to be back on this court," an exuberant Gauff told the on-court interviewer. "I love playing in this atmosphere."
Gauff, whose service woes last year prompted a dramatic coaching change days before the tournament and contributed to a fourth round exit, came into Flushing Meadows this time feeling much better about the stroke, having won the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati this month.
Gauff said she had worked make the toss more consistent under the tutelage of biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan, who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka retool her serve, improvements that helped the Belarussian rise to number one.
#serve
3 hours ago
