It wasn’t supposed to be this tough. Not for Coco Gauff, the reigning champ, playing under the Tuesday night lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The script was simple: a comfortable first-round win to kick off her title defense. But Ajla Tomljanovic clearly never got the memo.
What unfolded was less of a routine victory and more of a three-set nail-biter that had the New York crowd collectively holding its breath. Gauff eventually scraped through with a 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 win, but “survived” feels like the more appropriate term here. This was a grind. A street fight disguised as a tennis match.
Gauff’s Shaky Start and Coaching Carousel
Gauff looked a little rattled from the get-go. She dropped her opening service game, spraying errors like a malfunctioning sprinkler. Maybe it was the pressure, or maybe it was the recent coaching drama swirling around her. Having just split with mentor Matt Daly, she brought in biomechanics guru Gavin MacMillan to fine-tune her serve. Early returns? The jury is still out.
Despite the shaky start, Gauff found her footing, nabbing the first set with a crucial late break. It seemed like the ship was steadied. Normalcy restored. But Tomljanovic, who has a history of playing the spoiler at Flushing Meadows, just ask Serena Williams, wasn’t going anywhere.
Tomljanovic’s Tenacity Forces a Decider
Down 4-2 in the second set, Tomljanovic dug in her heels. She battled back, saved set points, and then absolutely dominated the tiebreak. Suddenly, the champ was in a dogfight. You could feel the tension ratchet up inside the stadium. This wasn’t just a match anymore; it was a test of will.
The deciding set was pure chaos. Serving for the match at 5-4, Gauff threw in back-to-back double faults. A collective gasp echoed through the stands. Was she about to crumble?
Nope. She pulled it together, broke back, and finally slammed the door shut, booking a second-round date with Donna Vekic. It was a victory, yes, but it was far from convincing. It was a gritty, nerve-wracking win that reminded everyone that on any given night, even champions can be pushed to the absolute brink. Gauff escaped, but this was a scare she won’t soon forget.
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