Playing in her last major as a teenager and her first as the reigning US Open champ, Coco Gauff could hardly have made a more impressive start to her Australian Open campaign.
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After overcoming a few early nerves, the American No.4 seed reeled off the last nine games in succession to trounce Slovakia's Anna Schmiedlova 6-3 6-0 in just 60 minutes on Monday.
"I'm always nervous in the first round of slams and honestly that gave me more confidence today," said 19-year-old Gauff.
"My first round at the US Open (a tight three-setter against German Laura Siegemund) was also a tough first round.
"I knew I could get through those tough moments in the match."
Gauff's best results in four previous visits to Melbourne Park were fourth-round appearances in 2020 and 2023.
It would be quite the shock if she didn't better that this month and challenge strongly for a second major crown.
"When I was nervous at 3-all I just told myself 'I feel good, I look good, so just have fun' and I was able to relax a little bit," said Gauff.
"That's why I play tennis - to have fun."
Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's decider at Flushing Meadow, becoming the first American teenager to win the US Open title since Serena Williams in 1999.
Tunisian sixth seed Ons Jabeur also marched on with a 6-3 6-1 dispatch of Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva to set up a second-round showdown with 16-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva.
Brazilian world No.11 Beatriz Haddad Maia advanced with a 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over 18-year-old Czech Linda Fruhvirtova.
But reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was blown away 6-1 6-2 by Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
The Czech star has never advanced beyond the third round in seven attempts at Melbourne Park.
It was Yastremska's fourth career win over a top-10 player and her first encounter on John Cain Arena since she sent local favourite Samantha Stosur packing in the opening round of the 2019 Open in what she described as "a freaky match".
"This time I felt so much support," she said.
Fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the No.19 seed, also made a flying start to the 2024 Open with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win over Australian wildcard Taylah Preston.
Svitolina, a former world No.3, was playing her first match at Melbourne Park since the birth of her daughter Skai in 2022.
Russian 17th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova crashed out 6-2 3-6 7-6 (11-9) to inspired German Laura Siegemund.
The upset win set up an intriguing second-round encounter with local hope Storm Hunter, who finally racked up her maiden Australian Open singles win after a decade of toil when she beat Italy's Sara Errani 6-4 6-3.
Siegemund was a hero of Germany's victory in the season-opening United Cup mixed team event, where she and Alexander Zverev took down Hunter and Matt Ebden in the deciding semi-final rubber.
Hobart International finalist Elise Mertens from Belgium had an easy passage into the second round, with her Egyptian opponent Mayar Sherif withdrawing when trailing 6-2 2-0.
Former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova from Russia upset 21st-seeded Croatian Donna Vekic 6-4 6-4.
Australian Associated Press
