Coco Gauff starts quest for 2nd US Open title, World No. 1 ranking with straight-sets win over Zeynep Sönmez

· Yahoo Sports

With a fresh Cincinnati Open title in her pocket and a path to the World No. 1 ranking in her sights, Coco Gauff looked very much the part Tuesday night in her opening-round match at the US Open.

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On the final scheduled day of first-round play at Flushing Meadows, Gauff took on Türkiye's Zeynep Sönmez in prime time. She started her tournament with an ace that set the tone for an efficient 6-3, 6-4 win.

Gauff was largely dominant on serve, which repeatedly exceeded 120 mph. When she surrendered a second-set break, she maintained her composure to regain control of the match.

Gauff broke Sönmez to take a 4-2 lead and seize control of the first set. She then broke Sönmez's opening serve of the second for a chance at a runaway win.

But Sönmez broke back to get back on serve and 2-2 and keep pressure on Gauff. Sönmez won three straight games and had multiple break-points to win a fourth. But Gauff battled back to remain on serve at 3-3

Gauff went back up a break on Sönmez’s next serve when Sönmez double-faulted on break point, and Gauff was in control from there.

A former champion who's advanced to the fourth round or deeper in four of her previous seven US Open appearances, Gauff hasn't always had an easy time in the first round. She's needed three sets to advance out of the first round five times.

There were no such struggles Tuesday night. Despite facing a spirited test from Sönmez, she needed just 80 minutes to secure her spot in the second round.

Coco Gauff was in top form Tuesday night while facing a spirited test from Türkiye's Zeynep Sönmez.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / REUTERS

There she'll take on the winner between Spain's Paula Badosa and Australia's Daria Kasatkina. Badosa held a 6-1, 1-2 lead in their first-round match Tuesday that was suspended due to rain.Gauff and Sönmez were spared the effects of the downpour playing under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Gauff entered the tournament playing some of the best tennis of her career that includes a 6–2, 6–4 win over World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final on Aug. 23. She stepped onto the court Tuesday on the short list of favorites to win the tournament and did little to dispel that notion against Sönmez.

There’s more than a Grand Slam title at stake for Gauff, who’s seeking the third of her career after winning the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2024. She also has a chance to secure the No. 1 ranking in the world for the first time in her career.

Gauff entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and ranked No. 4 in the world behind Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Pegula, in that order. Thanks to a rolling 52-week points system, No. 2 Rybakina can actually overtake top-ranked Sabalenka for No. 1, even if Sabalenka wins the tournament. If Rybakina advances to the semifinals, she’s No. 1.

But if Rybakina doesn’t, that opens the path for the other three to secure No. 1, which Gauff could claim with her second career US Open title.

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