Confident Gauff reaches US Open 2nd round with straight-set win

Coco Gauff advanced to the second round of the 2026 US Open with a dominant straight-set victory over Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez. The fourth-seeded American, who clinched the New York Grand Slam title in 2023, overcame her service struggles from the previous year to defeat the 53rd-ranked Sonmez 6-3, 6-4. Gauff dominated the match, showcasing her improved serving skills and solid baseline play.

She only broke Sonmez once throughout the match. Gauff expressed her excitement about returning to the US Open court, praising the energetic atmosphere. The American star had been working on solidifying her serve after a fourth-round exit last year. Coming into the tournament, Gauff had won the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati earlier in the month, boosting her confidence.

In the opening set, Gauff breezed to an early lead, while Sonmez struggled to return some of Gauff's serves. In the second set, Sonmez ramped up her game, employing heavy ground strokes and strategic net plays to tie the match at 2-2. Gauff continued to hold her ground, persevering through multiple break points and ultimately securing the match to advance to the next round.