GAUFF BEGINS US OPEN TITLE DEFENCE WITH STRAIGHT-SETS VICTORY OVER SöNMEZ

American tennis star Coco Gauff has made a winning start to her 2026 US Open campaign after defeating Türkiye’s Zeynep Sönmez in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

The fourth-seeded Gauff overcame the world No. 53 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory, producing a composed performance that highlighted the improvements she has made to her serve ahead of this year’s tournament.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, controlled much of the opening set through powerful serving and strong baseline play. She did not face a break point in the first set and consistently put pressure on Sönmez with her returns and groundstrokes.

The American had entered the tournament with renewed confidence after winning the Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000 event, and her performance in New York suggested that she remains one of the leading contenders for the title.

Her improved serve was particularly noticeable during the match. Gauff had worked on her service technique with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan following difficulties with her serve during last season’s US Open, where she was eliminated in the fourth round.

Although Gauff appeared comfortable early on, Sönmez raised her level in the second set and briefly threatened to turn the contest around. The Turkish player broke back to level the set at 2-2 and later moved ahead, forcing Gauff to deal with sustained pressure.

One of the most important moments came when Gauff was serving at 2-3. She fought through a lengthy service game and saved three break points before eventually holding serve. That escape helped her regain momentum and prevent Sönmez from taking control of the set.

Gauff then responded strongly, breaking Sönmez to move ahead before serving out the match. She completed the victory in one hour and 20 minutes, securing her place in the second round.

Speaking after the match, Gauff expressed her delight at returning to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, saying she enjoys the atmosphere created by the New York crowd.

The 22-year-old will now turn her attention to the second round as she continues her attempt to win a second US Open title and add another Grand Slam trophy to the championship she captured in 2023.

Gauff’s next opponent will be either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa, depending on the outcome of their first-round meeting.