Online Reporter
MELBOURNE. — Coco Gauff was given a solid workout by former champion Sofia Kenin but continued her lengthy winning streak to reach the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena yesterday.
The third seed, who led the United States to a United Cup triumph in Sydney to kick off her season, was troubled as much by the bright sunshine and her own errors as Kenin’s game in a tricky first set, which she won with an ace after 44 minutes.
Kenin, who beat Gauff on her way to the title at Melbourne Park in 2020, again blew hot and cold to keep things interesting in the second set but dropped her head after failing to break back for 4-4.
Former U.S. Open champion Gauff pounced to break her fellow American for a fourth time in the match and secured her 10th straight singles victory when Kenin sent a wild forehand well wide of the tramlines.
“It was a tough match for me today but I’m happy with how I played. I could have served better but I could hardly see at (one) end,” said the 20-year-old, who mixed 12 aces with nine double faults over the match.
Gauff, whose best performance in Melbourne was her semi-final loss to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka last year, will next face Britain’s Jodie Burrage.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula feels the decision to give herself an extra week to recover from a niggling knee injury has paid off as the American heads into the Australian Open on the back of a run to the final of the tune-up tournament in Adelaide.
Pegula sustained the injury in the WTA’s Asian swing of tournaments after her run to the U.S. Open final and had been managing it until being forced to pull out of her final round robin match at the season finale in Saudi Arabia two months ago.
“In Saudi Arabia, I’m not sure if playing on that indoor surface can be tricky sometimes on the body. It really flared up,” she told reporters at Melbourne Park. — Reuters.
