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Coco Gauff steamrolled her way into the second round of the U.S. Open on Monday, defeating Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0 to start her title defense. Defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic is preparing for another title push under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff, the No. 3 seed, served 10 aces to beat No. 66 Gracheva in just 66 minutes. She saved eight break points, including two in the final game with aces. “It was a really stressful match, but I enjoyed it,” said Gauff, the No. 3 seed behind world No. 1s Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
“Last year was awesome, so I just kind of went with that feeling and whatever happens, just go with it.”
Gauff has endured an inconsistent season since winning her first Grand Slam title last year, losing in the third round of a warm-up tournament in Toronto and then being knocked out in her first match as defending champion in Cincinnati.
“The last couple of weeks have been a little bit tough,” Gauff said. “But I thought today was the best tennis I’ve played in a while.”
Four-time champion Djokovic, seeded second behind world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, is trying to become the first defending champion in New York since Roger Federer won five consecutive U.S. Opens from 2004 to 2008.
“Hopefully this year that will change,” said Djokovic, who capped a disappointing season with a thrilling gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The victory fulfilled a years-long quest for Djokovic, who will not be able to compete in 2024 due to a knee injury.
With Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz hot on his heels, Djokovic faces his first year without a Grand Slam title since 2017.
The 37-year-old, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, tied with Australian legend Margaret Court for the most in history, said he still gets excited about the “pillars of our sport”.
That’s especially true for the U.S. Open, where he will face Moldovan qualifier Radu Albert in the evening match.
“I can’t wait to play under the lights,” Djokovic said. “The noise and energy in the stadium is totally different from anywhere else.”
American Ben Shelton defeated 2020 champion Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 at Ashe Stadium.
Shelton’s victory marks the end of Thiem’s Grand Slam career, with the Austrian announcing he will retire at the end of 2024 after several injury-plagued seasons.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support,” Thiem told the fans. “It’s been 10 years since I first played here and I’ve had my greatest success on this course.”
Krejcikova advances
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany fought hard in four sets to defeat lucky loser Maximilian Martel 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev defeated Brazil’s Thiago Sebos Wilder 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, while eighth seed Casper Ruud of Norway defeated China’s Buyun Chaokot 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 to advance.
Ruud will next face French veteran Gael Monfils, who beat Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the Argentine’s last Grand Slam appearance before retirement.
Wimbledon women’s champion and eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova eased into the second round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera.
Olympic women’s singles gold medalist and seventh seed Zheng Qinwen of China defeated Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after dropping the first set.
“At the beginning, every ball (by Anisimova) went in and I couldn’t do anything,” Zheng said.
“I’m gradually starting to find my rhythm,” added Zheng, who finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open and could face the second seed from Belarus in the quarterfinals.
Sabalenka closed out the night against Australian qualifier Priscilla Horn at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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