### Coco Gauff's Australian Open Journey Begins with a Strong First Round Victory Coco Gauff, the third-seeded American tennis star, commenced her campaign for a maiden Australian Open title with a decisive win over Kamilla Rakhimova. Despite facing challenges with her serve, including multiple double faults, Gauff showcased her resilience and skill, securing a straight-sets victory of 6-2, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena. This match marks a significant milestone for Gauff, as it is her 75th career win in Grand Slam tournaments, further solidifying her status as a formidable competitor on the court [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/coco-gauff-australian-open-victory-b2903060.html][https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/aus-open-2026-coco-gauff-advances-auger-aliassime-retires-with-injury/20260119.htm]. ### Breakdown of Gauff's Performance and Match Context 1. **Match Overview**: - Gauff faced Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round, winning in straight sets. - The match lasted approximately 99 minutes, demonstrating Gauff's ability to maintain control despite serving difficulties [https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/tennis/us-superstar-coco-gauff-battles-into-open-second-round-c-21353079]. 2. **Serving Struggles**: - Gauff recorded six double faults in the first set, a familiar issue she has been working to improve [https://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/national-sports/2026/01/coco-gauff-gets-tested-in-her-opener-at-australian-open]. - Despite these challenges, she managed to maintain a strong performance overall, showcasing her class and power [https://www.africa.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/47656716/coco-gauff-cruises-second-round-struggles-serve]. 3. **Milestones Achieved**: - The victory marked Gauff's 250th WTA win and improved her first-round Grand Slam record to 23-4 [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/tennis/coco-gauff-advances-to-second-round-at-australian-open-despite-serving-struggles-1931236]. - Gauff is aiming for her third Grand Slam title, having previously won the French Open and another major [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/gauff-crushes-rakhimova-to-reach-australian-open-second-round]. ### Key Statistics and Performance Metrics - **Match Statistics**: - **Score**: 6-2, 6-3 in favor of Gauff. - **Duration**: 99 minutes. - **Double Faults**: 6 in the first set, indicating serving issues. - **Career Milestone**: 75th Grand Slam match win [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/australian-open-2026-coco-gauff-reaches-second-round/story]. ### Conclusion: Gauff's Path Forward in the Tournament Coco Gauff's first-round victory at the Australian Open sets a promising tone for her tournament journey. Despite her serving struggles, her ability to secure a win against Rakhimova highlights her potential to advance further in the competition. As she aims for her first Australian Open title, Gauff's performance will be closely watched, especially with the possibility of facing Venus Williams in the next round, a matchup that could reignite their storied rivalry [https://www.apnews.com/article/venus-williams-coco-gauff-australian-open-76f37dd11eb5a08a7f486e8297c3edc3]. 1. **Strong Start**: Gauff's victory against Rakhimova. 2. **Serving Challenges**: Notable double faults but overall strong performance. 3. **Milestones**: Achieving significant career wins and aiming for a Grand Slam title. Gauff's journey continues as she prepares for her next match, with fans eager to see how she navigates the challenges ahead [https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2026-australian-open-coco-gauff-cruises-into-second-round-with-straight-sets-victory].