Gauff navigates serve shadows in Melbourne opener

In the thick humidity of Rod Laver Arena, Coco Gauff carved through her first-round opponent with ruthless efficiency, toppling Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 under the Melbourne sun. The third seed’s heavy topspin forehands sliced crosscourt, pinning Rakhimova behind the baseline and turning rallies into one-sided affairs. Yet those familiar serve wobbles surfaced, a carryover from a 2025 season where she led the WTA Tour with 431 double faults—more than double the next highest total of 300.

Gauff’s first set unraveled with six double faults, each one echoing the mental friction she’s battled on these plexicushion courts. At 21, with two Grand Slam titles already etched in her resume, she has yet to crack the semifinals here, her quarterfinal exit last year still a raw motivator. During a comfort break, she stepped off to refine her toss and motion, a mid-match recalibration that steadied her second-set delivery to just one fault, allowing her one–two patterns to flow with sharper intent.

Serve tweaks fuel second-set surge

The adjustments paid off as Gauff’s serves kicked higher off the hard courts, setting up inside-in forehands that Rakhimova‘s returns couldn’t disrupt. Her power overwhelmed the Russian’s steady defense, forcing errors in extended exchanges where topspin gripped the surface for extra bite. This evolution hints at progress in her months-long overhaul, though the inconsistency remains a vulnerability in a draw led by Aryna Sabalenka as the top seed and Iga Swiatek close behind.

Crowd energy built with each hold, the arena’s buzz amplifying Gauff’s growing confidence as she preserved energy for deeper runs. Rakhimova fought back with occasional down-the-line passes, but Gauff’s court coverage neutralized them, her footwork a blend of athleticism and anticipation. As the match concluded in straight sets, the American’s relief mixed with determination, her eyes already on the path ahead where every service game counts double.

Lefty challenge sharpens tactical edge

Next, Gauff meets left-handed Olga Danilovic, who dispatched 45-year-old Venus Williams in Sunday’s opener, sidestepping an anticipated all-American showdown. Danilovic’s southpaw angles could twist Gauff’s returns wide, especially on second serves prone to underspin slices that skid low. To counter, Gauff might deploy more backhand inside-outs, varying her patterns to disrupt the lefty’s rhythm and exploit the court’s pace.

The matchup tests Gauff’s adaptability, her power potentially overwhelming Danilovic’s upsets against top seeds on faster surfaces. Melbourne’s unforgiving bounce favors aggressive returns, so Gauff’s preparation will focus on poaching opportunities down the line. Victory here could propel her momentum, silencing doubts and building toward that elusive semifinal breakthrough.

American draws stir early turbulence

Elsewhere, former champion Sofia Kenin‘s Melbourne struggles persisted with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to fellow American Peyton Stearns, her fifth straight first-round exit since the 2020 title run as the No. 27 seed. Stearns dominated with 15 aces and only one double fault, wrapping the contest in 74 minutes through net-rushing aggression and clean baseline play. She advances to face Petra Marcinko of Croatia, her serving edge a blueprint for thriving on these courts.

For Gauff, Kenin’s early tumble underscores the draw’s volatility, where mental fortitude meets tactical precision. As the tournament heats up, her refined serve could be the key to navigating the American contingent’s mixed fortunes and contending in a field primed for upsets. The road to the later rounds demands she convert those flashes of dominance into sustained control.