In Melbourne on January 19, 2026 (NationPress), Coco Gauff, seeded No. 3, commenced her journey at the Australian Open with a commanding straight-sets victory of 6-2, 6-3 against Kamilla Rakhimova at the iconic Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

This win marked Gauff’s 75th career victory in Grand Slam matches, elevating her first-round Slam record to an impressive 23-4. Despite experiencing some serving difficulties—including seven double faults—Gauff maintained control throughout the match, successfully managing early pressure and concluding the contest in just 1 hour and 39 minutes.

“I strive not to place excessive pressure on myself in the first round. My goal is to win the tournament; whether I exit in the first round or reach the finals, I wouldn’t feel satisfied until I achieve that ultimate victory. However, that doesn’t diminish my pride in my performance during the tournament. Winning is the only result that brings true satisfaction,” Gauff expressed following her win.

Rakhimova demonstrated commendable resilience, saving three set points to hold serve at 2-5 in the first set, but Gauff remained composed and clinched the set with an unreturnable serve.

In the second set, Rakhimova persistently chased down lobs and drop shots, earning cheers from the crowd. Nevertheless, Gauff’s unwavering consistency allowed her to establish a 5-1 lead. Although a double fault and a brief lapse offered the Uzbek player a slight opening, Gauff swiftly broke back, achieving her sixth break of the match and securing a confident straight-sets victory as she embarked on her quest for the Australian Open title.

“I would have preferred to hold serve in that one game, but that’s the beauty of being a skilled returner; you know you have a high chance of breaking almost every game. I believe I performed well; I didn’t rush the points. She plays at a low level, so I focused on getting the ball up,” remarked the 2024 semifinalist.

With this victory, Gauff is set to face left-handed Olga Danilovic in the second round. Their matchup comes after Danilovic’s three-set triumph over seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams on Sunday.

“I practiced with left-handed Alex Eala earlier, so I hope that experience will assist me. There aren’t many left-handed players on tour. Olga is a formidable competitor who has defeated several top players, especially in this tournament, making it a challenging match, but I’m eager for it,” she stated.

“As the match progressed, I reminded myself to increase my serve speed. When I do that, I gain more velocity, so in the next match, I plan to start faster than I did today,” Gauff concluded.