Coco Gauff launched her Australian Open campaign with a straight‑sets victory, overcoming early serving problems to defeat Kamilla Rakhimova 6‑2, 6‑3 on Rod Laver Arena.
The third seed admitted she had to “erase” her shaky start after producing three double faults in her opening service game. Despite six double faults and 19 unforced errors in the first set, she steadied herself and sealed the set with an ace.
Gauff, 21, relied on her strong return game to pressure Rakhimova, ranked world number 93. She explained that her ability to break serve consistently gave her confidence throughout the match. “Once I got through that game, it was smooth sailing from there,” she said.
Her best performance in Melbourne came in 2024 when she reached the semi‑finals. This time, she showed determination to push past her serving lapses. She cut down mistakes in the second set and appeared more composed.
Serving for the match at 5‑2, Gauff faltered again, allowing Rakhimova to break back. However, she immediately reset and broke serve to secure victory in one hour and 39 minutes.
The American now faces Olga Danilovic of Serbia, who defeated Venus Williams in the opening round. Gauff emphasised her focus on winning the tournament, stating she feels proud regardless of the path, but remains satisfied only with the title.
Her Australian Open journey continues with high expectations, and fans anticipate whether she can build momentum after overcoming her early serve wobbles.
