NEW YORK — Coco Gauff faced a challenging debut match at the US Open on Tuesday night, marking her first contest since recruiting assistance for her inconsistent serve. She began with a double fault right out of the gate and racked up a staggering total of 10 double faults throughout the match, being broken six times in total.
However, the only figures that truly mattered were the ones displayed on the Arthur Ashe Stadium scoreboard: the No. 3 seed Gauff clinched a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic, advancing to the second round at Flushing Meadows.
“It wasn’t my best performance,” Gauff admitted, “but I’m relieved to have pulled through.”
Nothing came effortlessly for Gauff. She struggled to close out the second set, twice having a break lead, and even had a chance to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third set. Unfortunately, she double-faulted twice consecutively, making it 5-all.
“Staying close puts pressure on her to finish strong,” Tomljanovic noted. “Even if you’re Coco, the first round is always tough.”
Instead of letting the slip discourage her, Gauff regained her composure, broke back immediately, and ultimately served it out on her second attempt nearly three hours into the match.
“I had so many opportunities. I just kept thinking, ‘Eventually, one of these will go my way,’” she reflected.
Recently, Gauff added biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan to her coaching staff. Having previously assisted current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with her serve, MacMillan sat in the front row of Gauff’s guest box, right in front of her mother.
After her victory over Tomljanovic, Gauff described her sessions with MacMillan as “challenging” and “mentally draining.”
“I spent significant time on the court, serving until my shoulder hurt,” Gauff shared. “I feel like things are heading in the right direction, but it’s crucial that I avoid reverting to old habits during intense moments, which I managed to do today, especially in the third set.”
Gauff’s ongoing battle has been her tendency to accumulate double faults. Prior to the US Open, she had registered 320 alone this season, leading the women’s tour and surpassing the next closest player by over 100 instances. This included a staggering 23 double faults in a single match earlier this month, followed by 14 in her next outing.
During Tuesday’s match, while adjusting her service motion, Gauff started with slower serves than her potential. As the match progressed and the stakes heightened, the 21-year-old from Florida regained her usual velocity, increasing her average first serve speed from 88 mph in the first set to 101 mph in the third, with a peak 117 mph serve and even a second-serve ace.
What secured her win against Tomljanovic, ranked 79th and renowned for defeating Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open, was Gauff’s exceptional court coverage and impressive backhand. Fittingly, she sealed the match with a down-the-line backhand, raising her arms to energize the crowd.
Even as Tomljanovic unleashed her powerful forehand, it was Gauff who excelled in their prolonged exchanges at the baseline.
Moreover, she showcased her net play prowess, winning 12 out of 15 points at the net, including an impressive leaping, over-the-shoulder volley winner in the third set.
This match marked Gauff’s first Grand Slam appearance since her unexpected first-round exit at Wimbledon in July, which followed her victory at the French Open in June.
As Gauff progresses through Flushing Meadows, she has a chance to overtake Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in the rankings, potentially ascending to the coveted No. 1 position for the very first time.
