MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff experienced a brief struggle with the sun at one end of the Rod Laver Arena, leading to an early service loss. However, she quickly regained her composure to secure a smooth victory in her Australian Open debut, defeating 2020 champion Sofia Kenin with a score of 6-3, 6-3 on Monday.
The third-seeded Gauff, fresh off her WTA Finals title in November and a recent triumph with Team USA at the United Cup, is now positioned to potentially rise to the top of the rankings. Her main competitor for the No. 1 spot, the second-seeded Iga Swiatek from Poland, also made headlines by overcoming top doubles player Katerina Siniakova with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is facing scrutiny regarding a doping ban she served last year, which has drawn considerable discussion during the tournament.
The 2023 U.S. Open champion Gauff made a fashion statement in Melbourne Park by wearing a bodysuit and skirt inspired by Marvel. She exuded confidence throughout her match. “I knew going in it was going to be difficult, but I’m happy with how I played,” she commented on her 1 hour and 20-minute win against Kenin, noting that Kenin’s ranking of No. 81 didn’t accurately reflect her skills.
Gauff expressed some frustration with her serving, stating, “I could serve better, but on that side I was struggling to see the ball,” referring to the sun-drenched baseline on the court. Despite the challenges, she was pleased with her performance.
Another standout performance came from fellow American Alex Michelsen, who achieved the biggest victory of his career by defeating 2023 Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in a first-round upset, with scores of 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Michelsen’s powerful serve provided a pivotal break in the fourth set, allowing him to win against the 11th-seeded Tsitsipas. No. 17 Frances Tiafoe also moved forward in the tournament, winning after a five-set battle against Arthur Rinderknech of France.
Prior to her match, Gauff had an impressive streak of 33 consecutive wins against opponents ranked outside the top 50, a record stretching back to her loss to Kenin at Wimbledon in 2023. The match began with some challenges for Gauff, as she initially secured an early break but then had to fight to regain the lead after Kenin leveled the score at 2-2.
As she became acclimated, Gauff turned up the intensity, claimed four of the next five games, and ultimately finished the match with a remarkable tally of 12 aces, despite having nine double faults. She saved seven out of eight breakpoints and hit 28 winners, with impressive backhands that defined critical junctures in the second set.
This year’s Australian Open has proven to be a tough draw for Kenin, marking the third consecutive year she has faced a Grand Slam champion in the opening round, resulting in her fourth straight first-round exit in Australia.
Gauff is set to meet Jodie Burrage of Britain in her next match. Joining her in advancing from the early rounds are players like No. 12 Diana Shnaider, No. 23 Magdalena Frech, No. 25 Liudmila Samsonova, and No. 28 Elina Svitolina. In a surprising upset, Lucia Bronzetti of Italy eliminated two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, who was seeded No. 21.
After a weather-affected Day 1 of the tournament that included over six hours of rain delays, the packed schedule on Monday also featured matches from tennis legends including 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, defending champion Jannik Sinner, and rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
