In her opening match at the 2023 US Open, No. 6 seed Coco Gauff faced a tough challenge against German qualifier Laura Siegemund. Gauff managed to secure a comeback victory in a thrilling three-set battle, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night.
The match began with Siegemund, a two-time US Open doubles champion, displaying an attacking style of tennis.
She broke Gauff's serve and took a 4-2 lead in the first set, thanks to her precise passing shots and strong net play, winning 10 out of 13 net points.
Siegemund eventually claimed the first set.
However, the second set saw a shift in momentum. Gauff, showing resilience, fought back and capitalized on Siegemund's errors.
She took a commanding 5-2 lead and closed out the set, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The third set started strongly for Gauff, as she regained control of the points, and Siegemund's mistakes began to pile up.
Gauff took a 5-1 lead, and although Siegemund managed to win three consecutive games, Gauff eventually closed out the match on her serve, securing her spot in the second round.
Leading up to the US Open, Gauff had been in exceptional form, winning 11 of her last 12 matches and clinching two hard-court titles at Washington and Cincinnati.
Her victory in Cincinnati was particularly notable as it marked her first WTA 1000 tournament win
where she overcame a 0-7 head-to-head deficit to defeat No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
Gauff credited her recent success to a boost in confidence and the ability to trust herself even when she doesn't bring her absolute best game to the court.
She expressed her newfound confidence in her B or C game, attributing it to the work she's put in during practice and the fresh perspective gained from her new coaching team, which includes Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert.
With her eyes set on surpassing last year's quarterfinal finish at the US Open, a result that propelled her into the Top 10 for the first time in her career
Gauff is looking forward to the tournament with enthusiasm and a newfound perspective on her game.
In the next round, Gauff will face 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who secured her place with a three-set victory over Olivia Gadecki.
Notable statistics from the match include Siegemund's impressive 80% first serve percentage,
Gauff's 34 winners (including 7 aces), and Siegemund's success at the net, winning 33 of 53 net points.