Coco Gauff Digs Deep To Survive Ajla Tomljanović Test In Us Open Marathon

Coco Gauff survived a shaky serving capacity to conflict past Ajla Tomljanović successful nan first information of nan US Open, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 successful 2 hours and 57 minutes connected Tuesday.

The No 3 seed vanished pinch 10 double faults, was surgery six times and squandered a drawstring of opportunities to adjacent nan title earlier, but recovered capable resilience to separator into information 2 nether nan lights connected Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Gauff appeared successful power aft taking 5 of six games to return nan opening group from a break down and doubly starring by a break successful nan second. Yet she faltered erstwhile serving for nan lucifer astatine 5-4 successful nan third, conceding 2 double faults and a brace of forehand errors arsenic Tomljanovic leveled astatine 5-5.

The 21-year-old American responded instantly, breaking backmost earlier sealing triumph astatine her 2nd effort pinch a crisp backhand victor down nan line, lifting her arms to nan crowd successful alleviation arsenic overmuch arsenic celebration.

“It wasn’t nan best, but I’m happy to get through,” Gauff said. “I had truthful galore chances. I conscionable kept telling myself yet 1 of them would spell my way.”

Her service remains a clear activity successful advancement contempt recent changes to her team, including nan summation of biomechanics master Gavin MacMillan. Gauff has led nan circuit successful double faults this season, and while her speeds picked up arsenic nan lucifer wore on, inconsistency again weighed heavily.

Tomljanovic, classed 79th, had her chances too. The Australian produced 56 unforced errors and 8 work breaks of her own, her dense forehand threatening astatine times but yet excessively erratic to present nan upset.

Gauff will look Croatia’s Donna Vekić successful nan 2nd information arsenic she continues her run successful New York, pinch nan imaginable of leapfrogging Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek for world No 1 ranking for nan first clip still successful nan framework if she tin drawstring together a heavy run.