Coco Gauff, the fourth seed at the 2026 US Open, has advanced to the second round following a confident straight-set victory over Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez. The American star, who triumphed at the New York Grand Slam in 2023, demonstrated her improved serve and resilience in a 6-3, 6-4 win. Gauff, who struggled with her serve last year, has since made significant changes under the guidance of biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan, leading to her success in Cincinnati earlier this month.
Gauff's performance against Sonmez was marked by her powerful serve, which she broke only once. The American dominated the opening set without facing a break point, while Sonmez struggled to return her serves. Although Sonmez managed to break back and briefly take the lead in the second set, Gauff's resolve shone through as she fought off multiple break points to secure crucial holds and break her opponent's serve.
'It's incredible to be back on this court,' Gauff exclaimed after the match. 'I love playing in this atmosphere.' The win has bolstered Gauff's confidence, particularly in her serve, which she believes is now more consistent and effective. 'It's been a gradual change with the serve,' she noted. 'Slowly it's adapting to maybe the way it should look.'
FAQs
**Q: How has Coco Gauff's serve improved this year?**
A: Coco Gauff has significantly improved her serve this year under the guidance of biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan. The changes have made her serve more consistent and powerful, contributing to her success in recent tournaments, including her win in Cincinnati.
**Q: What challenges did Coco Gauff face in her previous US Open campaign?**
A: In her previous US Open campaign, Coco Gauff faced challenges with her serve, which led to a coaching change just days before the tournament. Despite these issues, she managed to reach the fourth round.
**Q: How did Zeynep Sonmez perform against Coco Gauff?**
A: Zeynep Sonmez put up a strong fight against Coco Gauff, breaking back in the second set and briefly taking the lead. However, Gauff's resilience and improved serve ultimately led to her victory.
