US Open Tennis: Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev roll into the second round

Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot to Varvara Gracheva of France during the first round of the US Open in New York on August 26, 2024. | Photo credit: AP

Coco Gauff powered into the second round of the US Open on Monday, starting her title defense with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva as reigning men’s champion Novak Djokovic prepared to make his repeat attempt under the floodlights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Third-seeded Gauff hit 10 aces and needed just 66 minutes to beat 66th-seeded Gracheva, fending off eight break points – including two with aces in the final game.

“This tournament definitely comes with a lot of pressure, but I’m just enjoying it,” said Gauff, who is seeded third behind world number one Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

“Last year was incredible, so I’m just bringing that vibe and whatever happens, happens.”

Gauff has struggled through an inconsistent season since winning her first major title last year, and in her preparatory tournaments she was knocked out in the third round in Toronto before losing her first match as defending champion in Cincinnati.

“The last few weeks have been a bit tough,” said Gauff. “But today, in my opinion, was the best tennis I’ve played in a long time.”

Four-time champion Djokovic, seeded second behind world number one Jannik Sinner, is vying to become the first man to defend his title in New York since Roger Federer won five consecutive US Opens from 2004 to 2008.

“Hopefully that will change this year,” said Djokovic, who capped an otherwise disappointing season with an emotional gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

With this victory, Djokovic, who was hampered by a knee injury in 2024, had completed his years-long quest.

With Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz hot on his heels, Djokovic is without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.

The 37-year-old, who shares an all-time record with Australian tennis legend Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slam titles, says he remains passionate about the “pillars of our sport”.

And this is especially true for the US Open, where he will host the evening session against Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.

“I can’t wait to be under the floodlights,” said Djokovic. “The noise, the energy of the stadium is just different from anything else.”

American Ben Shelton got the ball rolling in Ashe with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.

Shelton’s triumph marked the end of Thiem’s ​​Grand Slam career after the Austrian announced his retirement at the end of 2024 following several injury-plagued seasons.

“I just want to thank you for all the support,” Thiem told his fans. “It’s been 10 years since I first played here. I had my greatest success on this court.”

Krejcikova advances

Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev needed four sets to defeat lucky loser Maximilian Marter 6:2, 6:7 (5/7), 6:3, 6:2.

Sixth seed Andrey Rublev defeated Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, and eighth seed Norwegian Casper Ruud advanced with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 win over Chinese Bu Yunchaokete.

Ruud will next face French veteran Gael Monfils, who defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the Argentine’s last Grand Slam appearance before his retirement.

Eighth-seeded Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova easily advanced to the second round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera.

Seventh-seeded Olympic women’s singles champion Zheng Qinwen of China came back from a set behind to defeat Amanda Anisimova 4:6, 6:4, 6:2.

“Every ball (from Anisimova) went in at the beginning and I couldn’t do anything,” Zheng said.

“Little by little, I got into the rhythm,” added Zheng, who finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open and could face the second-seeded player from Belarus in the quarterfinals.

Sabalenka ended the night session at the Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon.