Australia, Jan 19 : Coco Gauff, seeded third, kicked off her Australian Open 2026 campaign with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova at Rod Laver Arena on Monday. The victory marked Gauff’s 75th career Grand Slam match win and improved her first round Slam record to 23–4. Despite seven double faults, the American maintained control, overcoming early pressure and closing out the match in 1 hour and 39 minutes.
“I try not to put so much pressure on myself in the first round. My goal is to win the tournament. Winning is the only result that truly satisfies me, though I’m proud of myself throughout the matches,” Gauff said after her win.
Rakhimova showed resilience by saving three set points at 2–5 in the first set, but Gauff remained composed and secured the set with an unreturnable serve. In the second set, the Uzbek challenged with lobs and drop shots, earning crowd support, yet Gauff’s consistency helped her build a 5–1 lead. After a brief lapse, she immediately broke back, sealing six breaks in the match and completing a confident straight sets victory.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff said, “I focused on accelerating my serve to generate more speed and control. I didn’t rush points and took advantage of my return opportunities. Against a lefty like Olga, I’ll aim to start quicker in the next match.”
Gauff will face left handed Olga Danilovic in the second round. Danilovic advanced after a three set win over seven time major winner Venus Williams on Sunday. Gauff added, “Olga is a strong player who has beaten top opponents. I’m looking forward to the challenge and will use my practice with left handers to prepare.”