Coco Gauff Extends Winning Streak with Victory Over Sofia Kenin at Australian Open

• Coco Gauff secured a 6-3, 6-3 win over former champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.
• Despite a challenging first set, Gauff maintained control and extended her winning streak to 10 matches.
• Gauff struggled with bright sunshine and her own errors but capitalized on key moments.
• The victory sets up a second-round matchup with Britain’s Jodie Burrage.

Coco Gauff advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, extending her impressive winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-3, 6-3 win over former champion Sofia Kenin. The third seed, who helped lead the United States to a United Cup victory in Sydney to start her season, faced a challenging first set on Rod Laver Arena. Gauff was hindered by both the bright sunshine and her own mistakes, but she managed to close out the set after 44 minutes with an ace.

Kenin, who defeated Gauff on her way to winning the Australian Open in 2020, proved to be a tough opponent once again, alternating between strong and inconsistent play. However, after failing to break back for a 4-4 tie in the second set, Kenin’s momentum faded. Gauff took advantage, breaking Kenin for a fourth time and sealing her victory when Kenin hit a wild forehand wide of the tramlines.

Following the match, Gauff acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, noting that she struggled with her serve but was pleased with her overall performance. “I could hardly see at one end,” said the 20-year-old, who mixed 12 aces with nine double faults during the match.

Looking ahead, Gauff will face Britain’s Jodie Burrage in the second round, aiming to improve upon her best Australian Open result, a semi-final finish in 2023.