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Coco Gauff overcomes nerves to start US Open title defence with win

Coco Gauff beat Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-4 in the first round of the US Open, while Elena Rybakina also advanced.

  • Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion and fourth seed, beat Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-4.
  • Elena Rybakina, the second seed, defeated Thea Frodin 6-3 6-2.
  • Gael Monfils, who retires at the end of the year, won on his 40th birthday.

Coco Gauff began her bid for a second US Open title with a straight-sets win over Zeynep Sonmez. The American fourth seed, champion in 2023, was tested in the second set but came through 6-3 6-4.

Gauff admitted to feeling nervous before the match. "I was nervous in the tunnel, and then for some reason when the warm-up started, it went away," she said. "I think it showed the first game how I came out serving really well."

Second seed Elena Rybakina also advanced, beating teenage American wild card Thea Frodin 6-3 6-2. Frodin, who once played Serena Williams' double in the film King Richard, said she had not met Williams but hoped to do so soon.

In the men's draw, fifth seed Flavio Cobolli needed five sets to beat Francisco Comesana, while ninth seed Taylor Fritz defeated fellow American Darwin Blanch in three. Gael Monfils, who retires at the end of the year, celebrated his 40th birthday with a 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-0 victory over Adolfo Alvarez.

Why this matters: Gauff's win keeps her on course for a potential second US Open title, a key event in the tennis calendar.

What this means for you: Fans can follow Gauff's progress as she aims for another US Open title.

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