On a day in which the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will play, it is
Coco Gauff that is first through her opener emphatically at the 2023
Canadian Open.
Gauff is in winning form after winning the DC Open and seems to have found the winning formula after hiring Pere Riba alongside former Andre Agassi coach, Brad Gilbert.
For the World Number Seven, it was a simple 6-2, 6-2 straight sets win. But her next test will get tougher with Marketa Vondrousova or Caroline Wozniacki awaiting.
After hitting her with a tennis ball in their doubles tie, a latter stage meeting could also be set up with Jessica Pegula. She plays shortly against Yulia Putintseva.
Jasmine Paolini who will play the winner of that clash is already through with Madison Keys withdrawing last night due to injury.
Gauff dominated the opening set losing serve once at 4-1 but breaking Boulter in pretty comfortable fashion three times in the set including to get the first set on the board going 40-0 up though and allowing Boulter back before finally sealing it.
For Boulter, it could've been a different story early on in the second set with one break point passing her by with Gauff sealing a dominant break at 3-1.
This separated them for the rest of the match with Gauff taking dominant service holds from there with Boulter struggling to close out but doing so on her own service game.
It was a back and forth final game with Boulter not quitting in the longest game of the match at that point with multiple match points not going the way of the American.
But finally the resolve waned as the sixth seed progressed.
For Boulter though, she will head into Cincinnati World No.58 after winning against Rebecca Marino earlier this tournament and will aim for the top 50 come the US Open.
After taking over the British Number One spot, it seems to be paying off after a long time with injury problems and not living up to her billing. But her Canadian run comes to an end to Gauff.
