Coco Gauff Fights Through Service Struggles to Secure Australian Open Victory
American tennis star Coco Gauff kicked off her Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought win. She overcame significant service issues to advance to the next round under Melbourne's scorching heat. The third seed defeated Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 on the iconic Rod Laver Arena.
Gauff eventually found her rhythm after a shaky start. She kept her championship dreams alive with this important first-round victory.
Gauff's Mindset and Post-Match Reflections
"I tried not to put too much pressure on myself," Gauff stated after the match. "I want to win this tournament. I'm only satisfied if I win, but I'm proud of myself regardless of how it goes."
The two-time Grand Slam champion relied heavily on her excellent return game. She consistently troubled world number 93 Rakhimova by breaking her serve multiple times throughout the match.
"It's the great thing of being a good returner," Gauff explained. "You have a good chance of breaking in every game."
Overcoming Early Challenges
Gauff, who reached the semi-finals here in 2024 for her best Melbourne result, showed visible frustration early on. Her serve malfunctioned badly in the first set, resulting in six double faults and nineteen unforced errors.
Three of those double faults came during her very first service game. However, she composed herself well enough to avoid an early exit. Before the tournament began, Gauff had mentioned having "good days and really bad days" with her serve.
She gradually discovered her groove as the match progressed. Gauff sealed the first set with a confident ace, demonstrating her improving form.
Maintaining Focus in the Second Set
The second set saw Gauff raise her consistency level considerably. She committed fewer errors and took control from the baseline, dictating play with her powerful groundstrokes.
Another brief lapse in concentration occurred when she served for the set at 5-2. Gauff gave Rakhimova a break opportunity, but immediately recovered her focus. She broke right back in the following game to secure the match.
The entire contest lasted just one hour and thirty-nine minutes. Despite the challenging conditions and early struggles, Gauff demonstrated the resilience that has made her one of tennis's brightest young stars.
