Coco Gauff digs deep to survive Ajla Tomljanović test in US Open marathon | US Open Tennis 2025
Coco Gauff survived a trembling service performance to fight in front of Ajla Tomljanović in the first round of the US Open, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 after 2 hours 57 minutes on Tuesday evening.
Seed n ° 3 finished with 10 double faults, was broken six times and dilated a series of opportunities to close the competition earlier, but spoke of enough resilience to scratch in the second round under the lights of the Arthur Ashe stadium.
Gauff appeared in control after winning five of the six games of a breakdown to take the opening and twice leading by a break in the second. However, she wandered when she served the match at 5-4 in the third, conceding two double flaws and a pair of errors of the forehand while Tomljanović led to 5-5.
The 21 -year -old American responded instantly, fighting before sealing the victory during her second attempt with a net of net reverse on the line, raising her arms to the crowd in relief as much as the celebration. “It was not the best, but I’m happy to go,” said Gauff. “I was so likely. I kept telling myself that one of them would go in my sense. ”
His service remains a clear work in progress despite recent changes to his team, including the addition of the specialist in the biomechanics Gavin Macmillan. Gauff admitted that last week of practice had punished: “I spent a lot of time on the court which was literally served until my shoulder suffers,” she said. “It’s like learning a new language … I know it’s the part of my game that should improve if I want to get the results I want.”
The tension was obvious overall decisive. “This match where I served at 5-4 was definitely as an old habit,” she said. “The next match was much better. At 6-5, I said to myself, trust the work we have done in the court.”
Tomljanović, ranked 79th, also had his chances. The Australian made 56 uncomposed mistakes and eight service breaks, her heavy right blow sometimes threatening but ultimately too erratic to offer the upheaval.
Gauff, who admitted that she remembered Tomljanović’s best career victory against Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows, said the competition was the perfect test at the start of the round. “The first round is more stressful than the final, according to my experience,” she said. “I don’t think it can become more stressful than that.”
GAUFF will face Donna Vekić from Croatia in the second round as she continues her campaign in New York, with the prospect of Sauter Aryna Sabalenka and Iga SwiTek for the world ranking No. 1 for the first time again at hand if she can chain a deep race.
