American Coco Gauff began her US Open title defense with ease, beating France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0 on Monday.
Gauff needed just over an hour to dispatch her opponent, looking more like the 19-year-old who won her first career Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows last year than the one who lost her last two matches before arriving in New York.
Paris Olympic women’s singles gold medallist Zheng Qinwen had to dig deep but came from behind to beat American Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.
Zheng opened her 2024 Grand Slam by reaching the final of the Australian Open. She faced a relatively tough challenge in the first round of the season’s final major in Anisimova, an American who was a finalist at the National Bank Open in Toronto earlier this month and is back in the WTA’s top 50.
The seventh-seeded Chinese, however, adapted her game to counter the American’s power as the match progressed. The first Chinese Olympic singles champion in history then earned a bye into the second round. “I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished so far, but I’m focusing on the moment right now,” Zheng said. “I had success at the Olympics, but when I get to the next tournament, it’s all over again. You’re not an Olympic champion anymore. You just have to stay humble and fight every match.”
Ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece became the first seed to fall after retiring after losing the first set of her match against China’s Wang Yafan. Sakkari, who also lost in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year, received treatment on her shoulder during the first set.
Among the other headliners in action Monday is 2023 U.S. Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka.
As for the world number 1, the Polish Iga Swiatek, she will begin her journey on Tuesday – as will the Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez and the Ontarian Bianca Andreescu, moreover.