Top seed Coco Gauff makes strong start to Canadian Open campaign despite error strewn moments

Coco Gauff is top seed this week at the Canadian Open and has started off well in her pursuit of glory. As she often does, she breezed through the opening round of sorts seeing off Yafan Wang 6-4, 6-4.

Despite the easy scoreline, Gauff didn't have it all her own way but it is still an emphatic straight sets win nonetheless as she looks to bounce back from Olympic Games disappointment.

The three-time Quarter-Finalist was pushed against the World No.72 who won two matches in qualifying before beating Sofia Kenin in the first round. But it was the key moments that Gauff edged it. She initially led 4-1 only for the Chinese ace to come back and make it 4-4. She won five straight games to put herself on a more even keel.

Read also

Prize Money 2024 Canadian Open ATP ($10,000,000) and WTA ($2,700,000) as Sinner and Pegula defend titles

She then seal the win in one hour 29 minutes and after switching from the clay to the hard courts, it's about finding her groove again amid an error laden display at times.

"I think I made some more errors than I'm used to, but overall, I think I was building the points the correct way," Gauff, who finished the match with 25 winners and 36 unforced errors, said. "I think I just have to do better making those next two balls. But overall, I'm happy with I played."

But it was both sets latter stages where Gauff put on a show. She balanced out 19 unforced errors with 11 winners. Before sealing the set from there. After starting the second set 3-0, the Chinese ace levelled the score. But Gauff found another gear winning back-to-bakc games and the last six points to reach the third round.

Albeit it might be a tougher task next up with the rising Russian, Diana Shnaider who is 14th seed continuing to add to her growing resume and a win over Gauff could be next.

Sportsnet

@Sportsnet

·Follow

Go Coco. 🎾 #NBO24 | @NBOtoronto

Watch on Twitter

10

Reply

Copy link

Read 3 replies