Melbourne, Jan 19 (.) Two-time major champion Coco Gauff kicked off her quest for a maiden Australian Open title with a 6-2, 6-3 first-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova at Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
The third seed overcame a shaky service performance, committing seven double faults, to secure her win in one hour and 39 minutes under warm conditions.
Gauff, sporting a lilac outfit matching her racquet, surged to an early lead with two breaks of serve in the opening set, despite conceding her next service game to allow Rakhimova, 24, on the scoreboard. The reigning Roland Garros champion closed out the first set with an unreturnable serve and maintained momentum in the second, racing to a 5-1 lead.
Although a seventh double fault gave Rakhimova a brief lifeline, Gauff immediately broke back to seal the match, claiming her 75th Grand Slam-level victory.
The victory sets up a second-round clash with left-handed Olga Danilovic, who recently defeated seven-time major winner Venus Williams in three sets. “Olga’s a great player… it’s going to be a tough match but I’m looking forward to it,” Gauff said, adding that practice against left-hander Alex Eala could help her prepare.
Before facing Danilovic, Gauff plans to catch her favourite college football team, the Miami Hurricanes, take on Indiana Hoosiers.
. . ARN