"Today I just didn't perform well" - Gauff disappointed by first round loss in Melbourne

Coco Gauff entered the 2022 Australian Open as a dark horse to reach the later rounds of the tournament, but fell short of expectations as she suffered a first round loss to Qiang Wang of China.

Wang outplayed the 18th seed to record a 6-4 6-2 victory, as the American produced a sloppy display that saw her record 39 unforced errors, with 21 in the second set alone.

"I think just everything disappointed me about today," reflected Gauff. "I feel like in the pre-season I worked really hard, and I felt like I was ready to have a good run here. Today I just didn't perform well."

Nonetheless, the 17-year old looked to put the tough loss behind her and learn from her mistakes.

"I think there's a lot to learn from. I think I was playing a little bit tighter than normal," added Gauff.

"So I think next time coming into the first round of a slam, especially after a tough week before, I think I need to just play more free and focus on the moment."