In the debut of the US Open, Coco Gauff guarantees victory and advances in search of the top of the world ranking
Tennis player Coco Gauff had a successful start at the US Open on September 1, 2026. The North American athlete, currently fourth in the global rankings and winner of the 2023 edition of the championship, surpassed Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez, who occupies 53rd position, with a score of 6/3 and 6/4. The match lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes on the main Arthur Ashe Court, which remained covered due to precipitation in New York.
This victory represents the seventh consecutive success for Gauff, who arrives with great momentum after securing his first trophy of the season in Cincinnati. With the favorable result against Sonmez, the American player also reached the mark of 41 victories in the year 2026, registering only 13 defeats.
In addition to seeking to defend the title won in 2023, Gauff has an additional incentive in this tournament. The tennis player from the United States has the possibility of finishing the US Open as number one in the world rankings for the first time in her professional career. To achieve this goal, she needs to win the championship and depend on Kazakh Elena Rybakina, second in the WTA list, not reaching the semifinal stage.
Coco Gauff controlled the first set completely and did not face any chance of breaking from her opponent. The American got a break in the sixth game, establishing a lead of 4/2, and maintained this advantage until concluding the partial with a score of 6/3. She finished the set with seven winning shots, compared to her opponent’s five, and registered five unforced errors, compared to the Turkish tennis player’s nine.
In the next set, Gauff got another break early on, opening up a 2/0 lead. However, from that point on, the confrontation became more level. The American player had problems with her second serve, allowing Sonmez to equalize the score at 2/2, and had to defend break-points in a game that lasted nine minutes. The Turkish player reversed the momentum of the match, taking the lead by 3/2, but failed to capitalize on her chances to extend her advantage.
For the second stage of the tournament, Gauff awaits the decision between Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina. The dispute between the Spanish athlete and the Australian, of Russian origin, was stopped due to rain at a time when Badosa was leading by 6/1 and 1/2. The American tennis player has a favorable record of 3-2 in head-to-head matches against Badosa, but has yet to beat Kasatkina, with whom she has lost all three of her previous meetings.
