Coco Gauff launched her US Open title bid with an impressive straight-sets victory over Zeynep Sonmez, demonstrating the form that carried her through Cincinnati just days earlier. The American fourth seed will now advance to face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the second round, where according to the WTA schedule, matches are set for September 2-3, 2026.
Gauff's 6-3, 6-4 triumph over the world No 53 came on Arthur Ashe Stadium and marked a composed opening to her campaign as she hunts a second Grand Slam crown following her breakthrough New York victory in 2023. The 22-year-old has now reached at least the fourth round at Flushing Meadows in each of the past four years, establishing herself as a genuine contender on this surface.
The American controlled the opening set with clinical efficiency, breaking Sonmez's serve once and wrapping up the first frame in just over thirty minutes. Sonmez, aged 24, began to find her rhythm in the second set, however, trading breaks and testing Gauff with penetrating groundstrokes and ventures to the net.
Trailing 3-2, Gauff faced genuine pressure as Sonmez mounted three break-point opportunities, but the American showed her mettle by holding firm and levelling the set before breaking back at 4-3 to seize control. From that point, Sonmez struggled to maintain the intensity that had briefly troubled the fourth seed, allowing Gauff to close out a commanding victory.
I wasn't that nervous today, which was a shock. When I walked back out on this court, I was trying to hold back a smile.Gauff reflected on court after the match, revealing her comfort in returning to the venue where she claimed her maiden Grand Slam title.
I know that I can raise my level if I need to. I like to challenge my opponent to keep up that level the whole match, and if they do, I clap my hands and walk off the court with my head held high. But I was able to settle down.
Sonmez produced flashes of genuine quality throughout, striking a blistering backhand that drew applause from the crowd and even earned recognition from Gauff herself. The Australian showed she belongs at this level but ultimately could not sustain the elevated play required to trouble the seeded American over the course of a full match.
Serena and Venus reunite for doubles showdown with familiar foes
In a compelling subplot to the tournament, Serena and Venus Williams will compete together in the women's doubles draw, facing the team of Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint. The pairing carries particular significance given that Joint defeated Serena in singles at Wimbledon this summer, forcing the 44-year-old American to withdraw from her planned doubles partnership with Venus due to a knee injury sustained in that first-round encounter.
The Williams sisters, who claimed the US Open doubles title in 1999 and 2009, last played together at a Grand Slam in New York in 2022, when they exited in the first round. Their reunion comes after Serena's return to professional tennis following four years away from competition, a comeback that began during the grass-court season in June.
Serena's withdrawal from Wimbledon proved costly, as she missed the opportunity to defend her partnership with Venus at the All England Club. The pair subsequently teamed up at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where they fell to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the opening round.
Joint, a 20-year-old from Australia, will partner with Chan as the No 14-seeded team in the doubles draw. According to the official WTA schedule, the women's doubles first round is scheduled for September 3-4, 2026, giving the Williams sisters time to prepare for their encounter with the seeded pairing.
Venus, 46, brings her considerable experience to the doubles court, having won multiple Grand Slam titles alongside her sister over their storied careers. The reunion represents a significant moment in tennis, with both sisters competing at the same major for the first time in several years.
What comes next for Gauff and the Williams sisters
Gauff's path through the second round will depend on the outcome of the Kasatkina-Badosa match, with both players capable of providing stern tests to the American. According to reporting on her opening victory, Gauff will face whichever player emerges from that first-round encounter.
For Serena and Venus, the chance to face Joint and Chan offers an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge, though the context differs significantly from Serena's singles loss at Wimbledon. The doubles format will require different tactical approaches, and the experience of both Williams sisters should prove invaluable as they seek to advance through the tournament.
