Beijing, Sep 26 (NationPress) The second-seeded Coco Gauff from the United States kicked off her title defense at the China Open tennis tournament with an impressive 6-4, 6-0 victory against Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday. The 21-year-old, currently holding the world No. 3 ranking, dominated after a closely contested first set, completing the match in just one hour and 42 minutes during this joint WTA and ATP event held in the Chinese capital.

"I anticipated a tough match," Gauff mentioned. "She's a talented player with strong results against top competitors recently. I felt a bit anxious initially, but managed to find my rhythm and play my game."

Returning to action since the US Open, Gauff faced a challenging second game where she saved four break points before establishing her flow. She broke Rakhimova for a crucial 4-3 lead and maintained her momentum, securing the first set 6-4. The French Open champion then swiftly dominated the second set, breaking her opponent twice and finishing the match with minimal resistance, as reported by Xinhua.

Gauff's season has seen a mix of triumphs and setbacks. On clay, she reached consecutive finals at the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, subsequently clinching her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros by defeating Aryna Sabalenka.

However, her momentum faltered over the summer as she faced a first-round exit at Wimbledon against Dayana Yastremska and was eliminated by Naomi Osaka in the Round of 16 at the US Open.

"This time, I feel less pressure," Gauff reflected about her return to Beijing. "When you perform well in a place, it builds your confidence. During tough moments, the familiarity of past experiences aids in navigating the challenges."

Next up for Gauff is a match against Canada's Leylah Fernandez, who comfortably defeated Greece's Maria Sakkari with a score of 6-2, 6-0.

Earlier in the day, fellow American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, advanced by overcoming Russia's Polina Kudermetova with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

In other matches, 25th seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada took down Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-2, 6-0 in a Round of 64 encounter, while Marie Bouzkova from Czechia defeated Poland's Magda Linette 7-5, 7-5.