NEW YORK (AP) — The excitement filled the large Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday as the crowd erupted in support of Coco Gauff before she played her very first match at the U.S. Open as the defending champion: “Here we go, Coco! Here we go!”
Despite arriving at Flushing Meadows after a series of disappointing early exits at previous tournaments, Gauff found herself trailing 1-0 against Varvara Gracheva. She had lost the opening game without scoring a point because of four errors in her groundstrokes. However, she then battled through a challenging game that lasted eight minutes, featuring 14 points and three break points for Gracheva.
Crucially, Gauff saved all three of those break points, won that tough game, and went on to dominate the match, ultimately securing a decisive 6-2, 6-0 victory. This win not only advanced the 20-year-old American to the second round but also reminded her—and everyone else—that her skills are sharper than they had seemed in recent weeks.
“These last couple of weeks have been challenging, and I realized that I don’t need to prove anything to anyone except myself,” Gauff, the No. 3 seed, shared. “These two weeks are really about meeting my own expectations. I expect to come back here many more times, and I understand I can’t win every year. Just having that perspective and believing that I can succeed—without the pressure of thinking I should—has been important for me.”
Day 1 of this year’s final Grand Slam tournament was a strong success not just for Gauff but also for another young American player, 13th-seeded Ben Shelton, who, after reaching the semifinals last year, defeated 2020 champion Dominic Thiem with a score of 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. This match marked Thiem’s last appearance at the U.S. Open, as he plans to retire after this season.
“You can see how much passion she plays with,” Shelton, 21, commented about Gauff. “It’s clear that she truly cares when she’s on the court. That’s something the fans really appreciate.”
Gauff wasn’t the only former U.S. Open champion competing on Monday night. The session started with 2017 winner Sloane Stephens, who lost a massive lead against Clara Burel, falling to her in a surprising turnaround 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 after winning the first nine games. Following that match, Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Slam title holder, including last year’s U.S. Open, advanced by beating Radu Albot with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Victorious seeded women included No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion and runner-up to Gauff last year; No. 7 Zheng Qinwen, who recently won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics; No. 24 Donna Vekic, the silver medalist; No. 12 Daria Kasatkina; and No. 14 Madison Keys.
However, No. 9 Maria Sakkari retired from her match after just one set due to a right shoulder injury. The highest-seeded male player to exit during the day was No. 15 Holger Rune, who lost to American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Advancing male seeds included No. 4 Alexander Zverev, the runner-up to Thiem four years ago, No. 6 Andrey Rublev, No. 8 Casper Ruud, last year’s runner-up at the U.S. Open, No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov, and No. 12 Taylor Fritz.
Zheng is having a remarkable season, highlighted by her run to the finals at the Australian Open in January, and her historical achievement of winning China’s first Summer Games singles gold. Although her match against Amanda Anisimova, a 2019 French Open semifinalist, started off tough, Zheng rallied to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“You have to start from zero. Being the Olympic champion doesn’t mean anything now,” Zheng stated. “I need to stay humble and fight hard in every match because if I don’t, I could easily lose.”
This mindset aligns with Gauff’s approach as she returns to the site of her most significant victory to date. After facing early exits in three events during the Paris Games—where she wore an Olympic rings necklace during her match—and suffering two defeats on North American hard courts, Gauff managed to shake off the past effectively.
Gauff wasn’t caught off guard by her performance. She recognized that her recent matches in Toronto and Cincinnati didn’t go well, but she felt confident due to her strong practice sessions beforehand. “Usually, my first round can really set the tone for the whole tournament, whether I’m playing well or not. I aimed to maintain a good mindset,” she explained. “Will this determine if I play great in the next few matches? We’ll see, but I intend to carry this mentality and hope my execution remains sharp.”
In just 66 minutes, Gauff claimed victory on Monday, showcasing her power with ten aces and saving all eight break points that Gracheva earned. Gauff also dominated, hitting 16 more winners than her opponent.
“We all knew Coco had incredible potential, and the way she conducts herself is something I wish I could emulate at her age,” reflected Keys, 29, who lost to Stephens in the U.S. Open final seven years ago. “It’s truly impressive how she manages the expectations and pressure placed on her while continually performing at such a high level.”
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