Coco Gauff secures US Open first round victory after a slight delay

Coco Gauff battles from a set down to win thrilling match at US Open; Iga Swiatek dominates in her opening match.

In a thrilling opening night at the US Open, Coco Gauff, the sixth seed, fought back from a set down against qualifier Laura Siegemund. Gauff struggled in the first set, as Siegemund displayed incredible anticipation and volleying skills. However, the match took a turn after an intense 26-minute first game in the second set. Gauff, in front of former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, engaged in a fierce battle with Siegemund at the net and finally managed to convert a break point on her eighth attempt. The two players exchanged stunning rallies, resembling a doubles match rather than singles. Tensions rose as Gauff grew frustrated with Siegemund's delaying tactics, leading to a heated exchange with chair umpire Marijana Veljovic. Gauff's spirits were lifted when Veljovic deducted a point from Siegemund for not being ready to receive, giving Gauff a commanding 5-1 lead in the deciding set. After two hours and 51 minutes, Gauff sealed a hard-fought 3-6 6-2 6-4 victory. Reflecting on the match, Gauff described it as tough but expressed her happiness in overcoming adversity. In the next round, Gauff will face 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

Earlier in the day, world number one Iga Swiatek began her title defense in impressive fashion. The 22-year-old from Poland delivered a bagel in the first set, winning it to love against Rebecca Peterson. Although Peterson managed to get on the board in the second set, Swiatek remained dominant and secured a comprehensive 6-0 6-1 victory in just 58 minutes. Swiatek expressed her satisfaction in executing her practiced strategies and having fun on the court despite the pressure and expectations.

The first day of the tournament saw an upset with eighth seed Maria Sakkari from Greece losing to Spanish world number 71 Rebeka Masarova. Masarova triumphed with a 6-4 6-4 victory. However, fourth seed Elena Rybakina, last year's Wimbledon champion, had a smooth start, defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1. Three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka secured a convincing 6-1 6-2 win against Fiona Ferro, while Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova defeated Storm Hunter of Australia 6-4 6-0.

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