Coco Gauff wasted no time asserting dominance at the Australian Open, brushing aside Kamila Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 in 1 hour 39 minutes to reach the second round on the iconic Rod Laver Arena. The victory marked Gauff’s 75th Grand Slam main draw win and extended her first-round success to 23-4.
Despite a shaky serve yielding seven double faults, Gauff’s elite returning, fleet-footed defense, and baseline reliability carried the day. Rakhimova showed fight early, saving three set points in the first at 5-2, forcing Gauff to dig deep for the breakthrough serve. The second frame brought more resistance via clever drop shots and lobs that thrilled spectators, momentarily shifting momentum.
Gauff, however, forged a commanding 5-1 edge. A double fault and errant shots allowed Rakhimova a foothold, but the American swiftly regained control with another break, notching her sixth of the match. It’s a statement win fueling Gauff’s Grand Slam ambitions.
In her on-court interview, Gauff shared her strategy of zero first-round pressure, eyes fixed on the crown. She highlighted how her returning edge turns opponent serves into break chances. Looming in round two is Serbia’s left-hander Olga Danilovic, who pulled off a major upset over Venus Williams.
Gauff’s early confidence boost sets the stage for a deep run, blending youthful energy with maturing tactical nous amid Melbourne’s sweltering summer spotlight.