Coco Gauff received a warm welcome at Arthur Ashe Stadium during her first match of the U.S. Open as the defending champion. Fans cheered, “Here we go, Coco! Here we go!” before she began her first service game. Initially, Gauff struggled, dropping the first game to Varvara Gracheva without scoring, making four groundstroke errors. However, she quickly regained her form and fought through a challenging game with 14 points, saving three break points against her. Gauff ultimately secured a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory, showcasing her improved performance following recent early exits from other tournaments.
Reflecting on her past few weeks, Gauff, the No. 3 seed, acknowledged the challenges but emphasized her focus on personal expectations rather than external pressures. “I have many more years coming back here and I’m not going to win every year,” she stated, highlighting her belief in her abilities while managing her outlook on competition.
The first day of the U.S. Open proved successful not only for Gauff but also for fellow American Ben Shelton, the 13th seed and last year’s semifinalist, who defeated 2020 champion Dominic Thiem in straight sets. Shelton praised Gauff’s passion for the sport, noting her unwavering commitment while on the court.
Additionally, the night session featured 2017 champion Sloane Stephens, who experienced a tough loss to Clara Burel after a strong start, followed by Novak Djokovic’s victory over Radu Albot. Other seeded winners included Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen, Donna Vekic, Daria Kasatkina, and Madison Keys. Notably, No. 9 Maria Sakkari withdrew from her match due to a shoulder injury, while No. 15 Holger Rune fell to Brandon Nakashima.
Zheng, celebrating her breakthrough season, which included an Australian Open final appearance and an Olympic gold medal, came back from a set down against Amanda Anisimova to secure her match. Her approach mirrored Gauff’s as they both focus on maintaining humility and determination for their upcoming matches.
Gauff demonstrated her readiness for the tournament, needing just 66 minutes to clinch her win, illustrating her strong performance by hitting 10 aces and outperforming Gracheva in winners. Madison Keys also commended Gauff’s maturity and ability to handle pressure, marking her as a formidable player in the tournament landscape.