Coco Gauff Beats Sofia Kenin in Australian Open First Round

Coco Gauff defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the Australian Open second round, extending her winning streak to 10 matches.

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old American tennis star, is optimistic that her hard-fought victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin will prepare her for the challenges ahead in the tournament. Gauff, seeded third, was pushed to her limits by Kenin, the 2020 champion, in the scorching heat on Rod Laver Arena. Despite the tough test, Gauff emerged victorious, extending her winning streak with a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Gauff acknowledged that she was initially apprehensive about facing Kenin in the first round. “Honestly, when I saw the draw, I was like, it's not a great first round,” Gauff admitted. “She's one of those people that she can play great tennis.” However, Gauff chose to focus on the positive aspects of the matchup, recognizing that a win against a tough opponent like Kenin could set the tone for a strong tournament performance. “But, I just think of the positives of, if you get through that, then you kind of have a set the tone for having a high level throughout the tournament,” Gauff explained.

The first set proved to be a challenging one for Gauff, who struggled with the bright sunlight and her own errors as much as Kenin's game. Despite these obstacles, Gauff managed to secure the set with an ace after 44 minutes, taking a crucial 6-3 lead. This momentum carried over into the second set, which Gauff also won 6-3, sealing her place in the second round of the Australian Open.

Sofia Kenin, who beat Coco Gauff on her way to the title five years ago, once again had an inconsistent performance, keeping things interesting in the second set. However, after failing to break back for 4-4, Kenin dropped her head, and Gauff seized the opportunity to break her fellow American for a fourth time in the match. Gauff secured her 10th straight singles victory when Kenin sent a wild forehand well wide of the tramlines.

Following the match, Gauff expressed her satisfaction with her performance, saying, “It was a tough match for me today, but I'm happy with how I played.” She acknowledged areas for improvement, adding, “I could have served better, but I could hardly see at (one) end.” Gauff also noted that the conditions were challenging for both players, saying, “I couldn't see on that side, and she couldn't either. I served better.”

Gauff, who famously made her Grand Slam breakthrough as a 15-year-old qualifier at Wimbledon in 2019, reflected on her growth as a player. She believes she is now more measured and less impulsive, marveling at her unbridled confidence in her early days. Gauff recalled, “Honestly, now I think I have, not less confidence, but I think then I was almost, like, delusional.” She chuckled at her youthful naivety, saying, “I remember I had my run at Wimbledon, and I thought I was like a slam contender afterwards. Yeah, I think that's just what my mind was being a naive kid.”

Coco Gauff defeats Sofia Kenin this time around 👏 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/HqhYbCE5T7

— ESPN (@espn) January 13, 2025

Coco Gauff has come a long way since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2019, and she is now a Grand Slam champion, having won the 2023 US Open. However, her best performance at the Australian Open was a semi-final loss to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka last year. Gauff will look to improve on that performance this year, starting with her second-round match against Jodie Burrage.

Burrage, the British opponent, is aware of the challenge that lies ahead but is relishing the opportunity to take on the world number three. “It's a free swing for me,” Burrage said, embracing her underdog status. “I'm a proper underdog. See what I can do, see where my level is at with arguably one of the best players in the world right now.” Burrage is looking forward to testing her skills against Gauff and seeing how she measures up against one of the top players in the world.