On Monday, August 26, 2024, in New York, Zheng Qinwen of China played against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)
On Monday, at the U.S. Open in New York, the Arthur Ashe Stadium resonated with enthusiastic chants: "Here we go, Coco! Here we go!" as Coco Gauff began her first match as a defending champion. Despite coming off a two-match losing streak and recent early exits in other tournaments, the 20-year-old American tennis star was determined to prove herself.
However, Gauff’s start wasn’t ideal. Facing Varvara Gracheva, she quickly found herself down 1-0 after losing the first game at Love due to several unforced errors. Yet, this initial setback didn’t last long. In a critical game that stretched over eight minutes and included three break points for Gracheva, Gauff saved them all, reclaiming control of the match. From there, she cruised to a dominant 6-2, 6-0 victory, ensuring her place in the second round.
Reflecting on her recent struggles, Gauff emphasized that her main goal now is to meet her own expectations rather than those imposed by others. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone except myself,” Gauff said, explaining how these next two weeks at the U.S. Open are about proving to herself that she can rise to the challenge without external pressure.
Day 1 of the U.S. Open was not just a success for Gauff but also for fellow young American Ben Shelton. The 13th-seeded Shelton, a semifinalist last year, defeated Dominic Thiem, the 2020 champion, in a straight-set win of 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Thiem, who turns 31 soon, plans to retire after this season, making this his final appearance at the U.S. Open.
Shelton praised Gauff, admiring her passion and commitment on the court. “You can tell that she cares out there,” Shelton said. “She’s into it every time that she’s on the court. I think that’s something that people love about her.”
Gauff’s impressive performance wasn’t the only highlight of the day. The night session featured former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens, who initially led by winning the first nine games against Clara Burel. However, Stephens lost her momentum and the match, falling 0-6, 7-5, 7-5. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, made a strong start by defeating Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Other seeded women who advanced included No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 7 Zheng Qinwen, No. 12 Daria Kasatkina, and No. 14 Madison Keys. However, No. 9 Maria Sakkari withdrew from her match due to a shoulder injury, and in the men's draw, No. 15 Holger Rune was eliminated by American Brandon Nakashima.
Zheng Qinwen, who is having a breakthrough season, overcame a tough start to beat Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Reflecting on her Olympic victory earlier this year, Zheng emphasized the importance of staying humble and fighting for every match.
Gauff’s journey at the U.S. Open mirrors this mindset of perseverance and starting fresh. After a challenging few weeks, including early exits in tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, Gauff knew she had to reset and find her rhythm. Despite her recent setbacks, Gauff remained confident, trusting her practice sessions would pay off.
In just 66 minutes on Monday, Gauff demonstrated her dominance by firing 10 aces and saving all eight of Gracheva’s break points. With her strong mentality, Gauff hopes to continue her momentum through the upcoming rounds, although she acknowledges that each match is unpredictable.
Madison Keys, who lost to Sloane Stephens in the 2017 U.S. Open final, praised Gauff’s maturity and resilience. “It’s impressive how she’s managed the pressure and expectations, continuing to perform at such a high level,” Keys remarked.
