New York – Coco Gauff, in her first match after getting help to improve her serve, had a difficult start at the US Open on Tuesday night. She double-faulted in the first game, and a total of ten times during the match.Furthermore, Gauff was broken in the same game, and six times in total.However, the numbers that really counted in the end were those on the scoreboard at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where world number 3 Gauff achieved a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic, securing her place in the second round at Flushing Meadows.
The path was not easy. Gauff led twice by a break in the second set, but could not close out the match. In the third set, she went up 5-3 and served to win at 5-4, but committed two consecutive double faults and missed a couple of forehands, allowing the score to even out at 5-5.This situation could have been a turning point, but Gauff remained firm, recovered the break, and finally managed to close out the match on her second attempt, almost three hours after the match began.“It wasn’t the best, but I’m glad I advanced.”
Coco Gauff
Gauff, who won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, added Gavin MacMillan to her coaching team shortly before the start of the tournament. MacMillan is a biomechanics expert who helped Aryna Sabalenka improve her serve a few years ago, and was present in Gauff’s box.After defeating Tomljanovic, Gauff described her practices with MacMillan as “really difficult” and “mentally exhausting”.“I had many opportunities… I thought: ‘Finally, one of these will go well for me'”.
Coco Gauff
The main challenge for Gauff has been her tendency to commit double faults. Her 320 double faults before the US Open were the most on the women’s circuit this season, exceeding by more than 100 any other player.“I’m trying to improve with every match.”
Coco Gauff
On Tuesday, while working on modifying her serve, Gauff started with slower serves than usual. As the match progressed and the tension increased, the 21-year-old Florida player returned to her usual pace, going from an average of 88 mph in the first set to 97 mph in the second and 101 in the third.
What gave her the victory against Tomljanovic, number 79 in the world, was the exceptional court coverage and her excellent backhand.A cross-court backhand converted the break point, and Gauff celebrated by raising her arms to cheer on the crowd.Even when Tomljanovic unleashed her powerful forehand, Gauff dominated the long rallies from the baseline.He was also successful when approaching the net, winning 12 of 15 points that finished at the net, including one with a backhand volley to the net in the third set.This was Gauff’s first Grand Slam match since her early elimination at Wimbledon in July, a setback that followed her championship at the French Open in June.As Gauff progresses at Flushing Meadows, she has the possibility of surpassing Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in the ranking and rising to number 1 for the first time.
