Coco Gauff delivered an authoritative performance in her first-round match at the Australian Open, defeating Kamilla Rakhimova 6–2, 6–3 in a display that underscored both her physical strength and growing mental composure on the biggest stages.
Commanding control from the outset
Gauff set the tone early, taking the opening set with decisive shot-making and consistent pressure from the baseline. Her ability to convert break points and maintain serve efficiency prevented Rakhimova from establishing any meaningful rhythm, especially during key service games.
Composure under pressure
Despite struggling with six double faults in the first set, Gauff’s mental focus did not falter. Rather than letting early serving inconsistency dictate the match, she adapted and refined her approach, reducing errors and asserting tactical control in the second set.
A milestone performance
With this win, Gauff not only advances in Melbourne but also marks her 75th Grand Slam singles victory, a rare achievement by age 21, placing her alongside legends such as Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. She also recorded her 250th career WTA-level victory, making her the youngest player to reach that mark since Caroline Wozniacki in 2011.
Looking ahead
Gauff’s smooth progression into the next round highlights her readiness for deeper runs at Grand Slam tournaments. Her resilience through early technical shortcomings and ability to elevate her game when needed bodes well for her ambitions not only in Melbourne but for the rest of the season.
By All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA – Photo_201, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=123636499
By Hameltion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180416349
This match was part of a demanding schedule during Australian Open Day 2